Latest News

The Jim Savage-Lowden Observatory at Culloden Battlefield will be open to the public on Saturday 4th September from 13.00 to 16.00. Do come and see our new solar telescope and view the dome and observing room.

Former NASA Director and Space Shuttle Astronaut spoke at Cowan House, Inverness

Tuesday 15th June 2010, 6pm to 7:15pm

George Abbey, former director of the Johnson Space Centre, and Don Williams, spacecraft commander, who were visiting schools in the local area, gave an additional presentation for adults.

This was an extraordinary opportunity and was flattering that the two NASA men  specifically asked  to present to Highlands Astronomical Society.

Eric Walker (Chairman)

Summer is here, and with it long sunny days, bereft of any observational enjoyment that might be offered by looking at stars... Ah, but not so! For our very own local star - The Sun - is available for us to study. Using safe equipment and methods, the Highlands Astronomical Society is now able to host solar observing sessions (Solar Saturdays) at the JSL Observatory at Culloden!

Equipped with our new Lunt 60mm hydrogen-alpha telescope, we are able to offer dynamic and breathtaking views of our Sun in motion. Huge prominences arcing out into space, filaments reaching out towards us, solar storms and ejections of solar plasma are all within the reach of this fantastic telescope, and we now have a team of members who are able and willing to use it to show these delights to anyone who cares to have a look.

The Solar Saturday sessions will take place on most Saturdays through the summer, at the Observatory, from 1400 - 1600, depending on weather conditions. It is hoped that at times there will also be "white light" views available, of Sunspots, granulation and faculae: features that can be seen using normal telescopes with special filters attached.

Our picture shows one of our observers, Gerry Gaitens, relaxing between views through a white-light filtered telescope at our inaugural Solar Saturday event, which took place on 22nd May. Half a dozen people turned up and were treated to excellent views of an active Sun - though they had to wait for clouds to pass in order to do so!

Please feel free to come along, but check the website first to see if the sessions are ON or OFF. The Observatory box on the right hand side will lt you know. Finally, please be aware that viewing the Sun through telescopes and binoculars that are not fitted with special astronomical solar filters can be VERY HAZARDOUS, so if you want to see the Sun safely, join us on a Saturday afternoon and enjoy the views in safety.

In Pursuit of Pulsars

Highlands Astronomical Society (HAS) was delighted to host world-renowned astrophysicist Dame Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell at Culloden Academy on Sunday 25^th April 2010.

l-r: Paul Jenkins, Pat Escott, Dame Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Eric Walker, Dr Pat Williams 

The Culloden Academy lecture theatre was filled with enthusiastic members of HAS, SIGMA (Moray’s astronomy club), and the general public of all ages. 

 Pauline Macrae, former chairwoman of HAS, introduced our honoured guest to the eager audience.  Jocelyn Bell was a post-graduate student who discovered pulsating radio stars (pulsars) with her thesis supervisor Antony Hewish, for which Hewish shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Martin Ryle.  Jocelyn Bell did not receive the honour.  Not letting such a trivial thing get in her way she carved out a tremendous career with many major scientific achievements to her credit.

She graduated from the University of Glasgow with a B.Sc. Physics in 1965 and completed her Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge in 1969.  She then worked at the University of Southampton (1968-73), the University College London (1974-82), and the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh (1982-91).  In addition, from 1973 to 1987, Dr. Bell Burnell was also a tutor, consultant, examiner, and lecturer for the Open University.  In 1991, Dr. Bell Burnell was appointed as a Professor of Physics at the Open University, a position that she held for ten years. She was a visiting professor at Princeton University in the United States.  Before retiring, Dr. Bell Burnell was the Dean of Science at the University of Bath between 2001 and 2004, and the President of the Royal Astronomical Society between 2002 and 2004.  She is currently a Visiting Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Mansfield College.  Dr. Bell Burnell is the current President of the Institute of Physics.

Her talk, based on the most up-to-date concepts and theories of pulsars and neutron stars, engrossed us all and her presentation style, which makes the most complex concept seem so simple, had everyone in the palm of her hand.  She delved into Einstein’s theories of relativity and hypothesised how pulsars could conceivably be utilised as the lighthouses for future inter-stellar navigation.  The audience just couldn’t get enough and the question & answer session which followed was both energetic and thought-provoking.

The Society is indebted to Dr. Pat Williams (HAS Secretary) who tirelessly organised this special event over the past few months.  The last minute threat of travel problems due to Icelandic volcanic ash did not sway her from her task and the evening proceeded without so much as a ripple to a pulse.

By Eric Walker

Doors Open Day at JSL Observatory

“Great telescope”, “Very friendly people”, “Clear explanations”, “Good leaflets”, Knowledgeable Guides”, “Great effort put in by the members”. These are a few of the comments made by some of the 58 visitors who passed through the Observatory for our second Doors Open Day. Visitors ranged in age from a babe in arms to grandparents bringing their grandchildren to see our wonderful facilities.

Firstly the Observing Station. There, Chairman Eric Walker told the history of Highlands Astronomical Society, from the early days in 1994 to our recent move, in August 2009, to the Free Church, Smithton for our monthly meetings. Visitors were shown our provision for the disabled and all appreciated the relative warmth and shelter of the room. Each visitor was encouraged to return for our first observing session of the season on 19th September and to come to the monthly meetings.

Simon explains the role of the observatory to a visitor	It got a bit crowded at times in the Observing Station!

Thence to the dome.

For the small boys (and some older ones as well) this was the highlight of the tour. Paul Jenkins, fortified by cups of tea, gave his talk fifteen times! He clearly explained the telescope’s capabilities and very knowledgeably answered a wide range of questions.

Uncharacteristically camera-shy Paul explains all...	... inside the JSL Observatory dome

HAS is grateful to The Scottish Civic Trust and The Highland Council for allowing us to take part, and we acknowledge their very effective publicity. We should also like to thank the members who gave up their wet and windy Saturday afternoon: Arthur, Bill, Colin, Eric, Pat E., Pat W., Paul and Simon. A particular thank you to Simon, whose idea it was, in 2008, that we should participate.

Finally a big “thank you” to the 58 individuals who came along and brightened a dull afternoon, making it all worth while. We look forward to seeing you again.

Final question: "What would you change?"
 A: “The weather.”

By Pat Williams