Members of the Liverpool Astronomical Society, (founded in 1881), will display several telescopes for viewing the Moon and other objects in the night sky, if clear. There will also be an illustrated talk on astronomy.

This event is free, and is open to all members of the public.

For more information contact:-

Halewood Visitors Centre - 0151 448 0960

Liverpool Astronomical Society
Geoff Regan, Observatory Director - 0151 292 7165 Dave Owen, LAS Sidewalk Astronomers - 07778 454524

I arrived at about 19:20 with Jim Lawler, in his Volvo Estate. Geoff Regan led the way, from the LAS Leighton Observatory at Pex Hill, in my Micra, with his 12 inch Dobsonian in the back of it. When we arrived, Jim Stacey was setting up his 5 inch Maksutov. The Halewood Ranger, Darren, was amenable to us taking advantage of an especially clear night by dispensing with an indoor slide show.

Brendan Martin set up his 6 inch f9 reflector. John Leek set up his 120 mm f8.9 refractor and Dave Bentley set up his 85 mm f6 refractor. We used Geoff Regan's folding table to set up my 3 inch f4 reflector and Geoff's 4.5 inch f4 reflector. I used another, more rickety, table to set up some coffee making stuff.

By about 20:15 we had already experienced several waves of animated teenagers who had either emerged from the nearby forest or from the surrounding housing estate. One group of lads was especially demonstrative and a typical show off conversation went as folows: "Wow, are those mountains on the moon taller than Mount Snowden"? - a welsh peak about 3000 feet high. "Oh yes, probably about 3 to 4 as times high". "I've climbed Mount Everest"!...... "Where is that"? Without hesitation: "In America". "Oh, has it moved then"!? General outbreak of laughter.

A second wave of animated teenage girls was, by comparison, much more sedate.

Perhaps because of the severe light pollution, the Ring Nebula, M57, was remarkably vivid in the 12 inch scope, after a sodium filter was put on a 25 mm eyepiece.

Several Community Warden's seemed very impressed with the views of Mars and the Moon in the 12 inch. However, I was still missing the 16 inch scope we had brought to this event last year. Some last minute logistical complications had left it sleeping at Pex Hill. This is one reason why we have decided to try to build a 20 inch f6 Dobsonian that, hopefully, will be easier to transport than my 16 inch.

The total number of visitors was estimated at about 60. Together with 10 LAS members and the Knowsley Ranger this made a total of about 71.

Jim Stacey was able to take some photos of this event which can be seen below:-

The next Sidewalk event will be at Leasowe Lighthouse, Wirral, on Fri 6 January 2006.

Dave Owen

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