Aquarius_Vesta_Sun_Moon_Bone_2004.pdf

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J. Br. Astron. Assoc. 114, 5, 2004 297 Sun and Moon Sunspot cycle 23 continues to bring occa- sional large active areas during its declining phase. A major spot group rotated into view in the third week of July, and was associated with vigorous solar flare activity which trig- gered some low-latitude aurora. Observers following sunspot activity by the safe pro- jection method should find one or two active areas on the disk on most days. For many, of course, viewing opportunities are now be- coming restricted as the Sun heads south- wards along the ecliptic and the days grow shorter. Conversely, the nights grow longer, and with the return of Greenwich Mean Time to the civil clock on Sunday October 31 (Hallowe’en!), night-time observing can get underway that much earlier. The Moon is New on October 14 and November 12, placing the darkest night-time conditions in the middle fortnight of the month. Full Moon falls on October 28 and November 26, with bright skies unsuitable for observing faint objects for several nights to either side. At October’s New Moon, a partial solar eclipse will be visible from northeast Asia and the northern Pacific region. No part of the event will be seen from Europe, but we are well placed to observe the total lunar eclipse at Full Moon on October 28. This will, how- ever, entail a late-night stint: observers may choose to stay up late on Wednesday-Thurs- day of October 27-28 to catch it, or rise very early on Thursday morning. Tracking eastwards relative to the star back- ground, the Moon makes first contact with the central dark cone (the umbra) of Earth’s Sky notes by Neil Bone 2004 October & November shadow at 01h 14m Universal Time (UT=GMT, BST minus 1 hour; first contact is thus at 02h 14m BST). Soon after this time, a growing dark ‘notch’ will be apparent on the Moon’s more easterly limb. The Moon travels eastwards by about its own diameter in an hour, and takes until 02h 23m UT to become completely immersed in the umbra. As it becomes more fully immersed, the Moon in eclipse typically takes on a cop- pery-red hue, remaining visible but consider- ably dimmed from its fully-sunlit appearance. The relative brightness and colour of the to- tally-eclipsed Moon depend largely on the state of Earth’s atmosphere: the red glow is a result of sunlight being refracted through the atmosphere to the Moon. If the atmosphere has a heavy dust load (after a volcanic erup- tion, say) or a lot of cloud, the eclipsed Moon can appear more grey and becomes very dim. The year’s earlier eclipse, on May 4, was comparatively dark. No two lunar eclipses are ever quite the same, and it will be inter- esting to see how the October 28 event com- pares. The totally-eclipsed Moon makes an attractive photographic target, and can be captured in exposures of a couple of sec- onds’ duration at f/2 to f/4 on ISO 400 col- our film, using a 135mm telephoto lens. Totality ends at 03h 44m UT, as the Moon’s easterly limb re-emerges into sun- light. The partial phase ends at 04h 51m, by which time the Moon, seen against the stars of Aries, will be lowering in the western sky as dawn approaches. The planets Mercury is at superior conjunction on the far side of the Sun on October 5, then moves into the evening sky, reaching greatest elongation 22° east of the Sun on November 21. Through- out this apparition, Mercury is at a southerly declination, and the planet will be invisible from the latitudes of the British Isles. Venus continues its fine showing as a mag- nitude -4 ‘morning star’, rising about three hours ahead of the Sun in early October, and still more than two hours before sunrise at November’s end. Venus’ elongation west from the Sun decreases from about 40 to 30° in this interval. Telescopically, the planet shows a gradually broadening gibbous phase, but the disk itself has a relatively small an- gular diameter of under 15 arcseconds. Mars has re-emerged from solar conjunc- tion into the pre-dawn sky, where it will re- The lunar eclipse of 2004 May 4, photographed by Neil Bone just after the end of totality. N. M. Bone. main as a rather dim red ‘spark’ for the rest of 2004, only a little brighter than second magni- tude and too far away to reveal much in the way of detail in most amateur telescopes. Also returning to view is Jupiter, shining at mag -2 among the stars of Virgo and rising three hours before the Sun by early Novem- ber. The large (30 arcsecond) apparent disk of the planet shows considerable cloud detail in even quite modest telescopes, and early-morn- ing views in good seeing conditions during this period should reveal Jupiter’s dark belts, light zones and spot features. Jupiter and Venus are close together in the pre-dawn sky in early November, having a close conjunction 33 arcminutes (roughly a Moon-width) apart on the morning of No- vember 5 - an attractive pairing for wide- field photography. The only planet well-placed for evening observation in this interval is Saturn, in Gemini to the south of Castor and Pollux. Rising around 8pm by mid-November, the ringed planet is well up in the southeast by midnight. The ring system remains open in its presentation towards us, and can be seen well in telescopes of 60mm or greater aper- ture with a magnification of at least ×40. Larger telescopes, in the 200mm aperture range upwards, may reveal some cloud de- tails on Saturn itself, though these are rather less pronounced than those of Jupiter. Saturn’s large satellite Titan is, at mag +8, a fairly easy target for small telescopes and can be seen about four ring-spans due west of the planet around October 16, and November 1 and 17, being due east about 8 days later. Minor planets (4) Vesta remains a fairly easy binocular tar- get, looping against the stars of eastern Aquarius during October and November. Brightest of the asteroids at about 6th mag- nitude, Vesta can be identified with the help of the detailed chart (showing faint back- ground stars) at http://www.britastro.org/ arps/04-0409.jpg Meteors Absence of moonlight in the early morning hours favours observation of the Orionids

Transcript of Aquarius_Vesta_Sun_Moon_Bone_2004.pdf

  • J. Br. Astron. Assoc. 114, 5, 2004 297

    Sun and Moon

    Sunspot cycle 23 continues to bring occa-sional large active areas during its decliningphase. A major spot group rotated into viewin the third week of July, and was associatedwith vigorous solar flare activity which trig-gered some low-latitude aurora. Observersfollowing sunspot activity by the safe pro-jection method should find one or two activeareas on the disk on most days. For many, ofcourse, viewing opportunities are now be-coming restricted as the Sun heads south-wards along the ecliptic and the days growshorter.

    Conversely, the nights grow longer, andwith the return of Greenwich Mean Time tothe civil clock on Sunday October 31(Halloween!), night-time observing can getunderway that much earlier.

    The Moon is New on October 14 andNovember 12, placing the darkest night-timeconditions in the middle fortnight of themonth. Full Moon falls on October 28 andNovember 26, with bright skies unsuitablefor observing faint objects for several nightsto either side.

    At Octobers New Moon, a partial solareclipse will be visible from northeast Asia andthe northern Pacific region. No part of theevent will be seen from Europe, but we arewell placed to observe the total lunar eclipseat Full Moon on October 28. This will, how-ever, entail a late-night stint: observers may

    choose to stay up late on WednesdayThurs-

    day of October 2728 to catch it, or rise veryearly on Thursday morning.

    Tracking eastwards relative to the star back-ground, the Moon makes first contact withthe central dark cone (the umbra) of Earths

    Sky notes by Neil Bone

    2004 October & November

    shadow at 01h 14m Universal Time(UT=GMT, BST minus 1 hour; first contactis thus at 02h 14m BST). Soon after this time,a growing dark notch will be apparent onthe Moons more easterly limb. The Moontravels eastwards by about its own diameterin an hour, and takes until 02h 23m UT tobecome completely immersed in the umbra.

    As it becomes more fully immersed, theMoon in eclipse typically takes on a cop-pery-red hue, remaining visible but consider-ably dimmed from its fully-sunlit appearance.The relative brightness and colour of the to-tally-eclipsed Moon depend largely on thestate of Earths atmosphere: the red glow is aresult of sunlight being refracted through theatmosphere to the Moon. If the atmospherehas a heavy dust load (after a volcanic erup-tion, say) or a lot of cloud, the eclipsed Mooncan appear more grey and becomes very dim.

    The years earlier eclipse, on May 4, wascomparatively dark. No two lunar eclipsesare ever quite the same, and it will be inter-esting to see how the October 28 event com-pares. The totally-eclipsed Moon makes anattractive photographic target, and can becaptured in exposures of a couple of sec-onds duration at f/2 to f/4 on ISO 400 col-our film, using a 135mm telephoto lens.

    Totality ends at 03h 44m UT, as theMoons easterly limb re-emerges into sun-light. The partial phase ends at 04h 51m, bywhich time the Moon, seen against the starsof Aries, will be lowering in the western skyas dawn approaches.

    The planets

    Mercury is at superior conjunction on the farside of the Sun on October 5, then moves intothe evening sky, reaching greatest elongation22 east of the Sun on November 21. Through-out this apparition, Mercury is at a southerlydeclination, and the planet will be invisiblefrom the latitudes of the British Isles.

    Venus continues its fine showing as a mag-nitude 4 morning star, rising about threehours ahead of the Sun in early October, andstill more than two hours before sunrise atNovembers end. Venus elongation westfrom the Sun decreases from about 40 to 30in this interval. Telescopically, the planetshows a gradually broadening gibbous phase,but the disk itself has a relatively small an-gular diameter of under 15 arcseconds.

    Mars has re-emerged from solar conjunc-tion into the pre-dawn sky, where it will re-

    The lunar eclipse of 2004 May 4,photographed by Neil Bone just after theend of totality. N. M. Bone.

    main as a rather dim red spark for the rest of2004, only a little brighter than second magni-tude and too far away to reveal much in theway of detail in most amateur telescopes.

    Also returning to view is Jupiter, shiningat mag 2 among the stars of Virgo and risingthree hours before the Sun by early Novem-ber. The large (30 arcsecond) apparent disk ofthe planet shows considerable cloud detail ineven quite modest telescopes, and early-morn-ing views in good seeing conditions duringthis period should reveal Jupiters dark belts,light zones and spot features.

    Jupiter and Venus are close together in thepre-dawn sky in early November, having aclose conjunction 33 arcminutes (roughly aMoon-width) apart on the morning of No-vember 5 an attractive pairing for wide-field photography.

    The only planet well-placed for eveningobservation in this interval is Saturn, inGemini to the south of Castor and Pollux.Rising around 8pm by mid-November, theringed planet is well up in the southeast bymidnight. The ring system remains open inits presentation towards us, and can be seenwell in telescopes of 60mm or greater aper-ture with a magnification of at least 40.Larger telescopes, in the 200mm aperturerange upwards, may reveal some cloud de-tails on Saturn itself, though these are ratherless pronounced than those of Jupiter.

    Saturns large satellite Titan is, at mag +8, afairly easy target for small telescopes and canbe seen about four ring-spans due west of theplanet around October 16, and November 1and 17, being due east about 8 days later.

    Minor planets

    (4) Vesta remains a fairly easy binocular tar-get, looping against the stars of easternAquarius during October and November.Brightest of the asteroids at about 6th mag-nitude, Vesta can be identified with the helpof the detailed chart (showing faint back-ground stars) at http://www.britastro.org/arps/04-0409.jpg

    Meteors

    Absence of moonlight in the early morninghours favours observation of the Orionids

  • J. Br. Astron. Assoc. 114, 5, 2004298

    around their maximum between October 2022. Emanating from a radiant to the north-east of Betelgeuse, the shower is active fromabout October 17 until the months end, pro-ducing swift meteors, the brightest of whichfrequently leave persistent ionisation trains.Late night watches are required as the radi-ant doesnt rise until after 22h local time.

    Late-night Orionid-watchers should alsonote a steady trickle of Taurid activity fromradiants west of the Pleiades and Hyades.Typically, observed rates are about 5 mete-ors/hr, and unlike Orionids, Taurid meteorsare notably slow-moving. Produced by de-bris from Comet 2P/Encke, the Taurid streamis ancient and rather spread out, with a longactivity span from mid-October through tothe end of November. Rates are at their high-est in the first week of November, at whichtime the Moon will be out of the way inearly evening.

    Active between November 1520, theLeonids, like the Orionids, demand late-nightobserving sessions. The shower radiant, inLeos Sickle, rises around 23h local time,and isnt really well placed until the earlyhours. Peak in most years occurs aroundNovember 1718, and in 2004 is favouredby dark moonless skies. It will be of particu-lar interest to see how the shower performsthis year, some way downstream from thestorm returns of 19992002. The back-ground Leonid activity level may still behigher than in, say, the 1980s, and watchescould be enlivened by a reasonable propor-tion of bright events with lingering persist-ent trains.

    Further details of Leonid and Orionid pros-pects for 2004 can be found on page 240.

    Variable stars

    Autumns longer hours of darkness offerimproved opportunities to follow the famouseclipsing binary Algol (Beta Persei) as itdrops to minimum magnitude +3.4 from itsusual peak +2.1 at intervals of 2.83 days.Favourably-timed eclipses occur on Octo-ber 1213 and 15, and on November 4, 2425 and 27. Algol takes about five hours tofade to minimum, with a similar recoverytime so a determined observer could justabout cover the whole cycle, given clear skies,for the eclipse centred on 01h UT on No-vember 2425.

    Binocular observers seeking a challengemay like to try following the prototype long-period variable Mira (Omicron Ceti) all theway down to its 9th-magnitude minimum to-wards the end of the year. Found just west ofthe triangle of Alpha, Gamma and Delta Cetimarking the head of the Sea Monster (Cetus),Mira should be below 7th magnitude during

    this interval, and would-be observers will needa detailed chart: one is available at http://www.britastro.org/vss/charts/_03902b.gif

    Highlighted as potentially entering an in-teresting, active phase over a year ago, RhoCassiopeiae (just west of the familiar W)has remained fairly constant of late, but is a5th-magnitude variable star which bears con-tinued monitoring and is well placed on au-tumn evenings. Rho Cas is a unstable yellowsupergiant, and a good candidate for a super-nova explosion a few tens of thousands ofyears hence.

    Also long-touted as being on the brink ofsome interesting activity is the central starof the W, Gamma Cassiopeiae. This rap-idly-spinning young B-class star is prone toshell episodes, during which its outer lay-ers are shed with attendant brightening, aslast occurred in the 1930s. This is a nakedeye variable star, whose magnitude can beestimated by comparison with, say, AlphaAndromedae (mag +2.1) and Gamma Pegasi(mag +2.8) at intervals of a few days.

    Deep sky

    On late autumn evenings, the southern skyaspect from the UK is rather less star-filledthan that of the summer recently gone or win-ter soon to come. Relatively dim constella-tions with few bright stars occupy the spacebelow (south of) the Square of Pegasus whichrides high on the meridian. This region, some-times called The Water, contains aquatic-associated constellations: Capricornus,Aquarius, Pisces, Piscis Austrinus and Cetus.This part of the sky provides a view awayfrom the Milky Way plane and out intointergalactic space. Autumn evenings are goodfor galaxy-hunting, though for most objectsthe pursuit will demand the most transparentof nights bonfire smoke or seasonal mistwill render some targets inaccessible.

    The easiest autumn galaxy is, of course,M31 (NGC 224) in Andromeda, visible tothe naked eye as a third-magnitude haze.Steadily-held binoculars or a small telescope

    Photo of M31 from the Deep Sky Section archives. Taken in 1982 with a 25cm telescopeby Geoffrey Johnstone, it shows many globular clusters surrounding this neighbouring galaxyto our own.

    Sky notes

  • J. Br. Astron. Assoc. 114, 5, 2004 299

    two names that you candepend on, for the ultimatein quality, reliability andusability.

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    will reveal the Andromeda Galaxys 8th-mag-nitude dwarf elliptical companions M32(NGC 221) and M110 (NGC 205). In theadjacent constellation of Triangulum, 4 westof Alpha Tri at the sharp tip, M33 (NGC598) is a good binocular object at mag +5.7.A face-on spiral galaxy, M33 is large (over adegree two Moon-widths in diameter)and has low contrast with the backgroundsky. On some nights, it is more readily vis-ible in binoculars than with a telescope. BothM31 and M33 are members of the LocalGroup to which our Milky Way belongs,lying about 2 million light years away.

    The autumn sky contains other, more re-mote and consequently fainter galaxieswhich can prove a lot more testing. Amongthese is M74 (NGC 628), a mag +9.4 face-on spiral found 30 arcminutes northeast ofEta Piscium (a rather isolated mag +3.6 stareast of the main bright stars of Aries). M74has low contrast spiral arms and a small,concentrated nucleus. The galaxy is notableas the site of the recent 12th-magnitude su-pernova SN 2002ap, believed to be ahypernova event resulting from an explo-sion in an enormously-massive binary starsystem. M74 lies 35 million light yearsaway.

    Another very testing autumn galaxy fortelescopes in the 80 to 100mm aperture

    bracket is M77 (NGC 1068) in Cetus. Lo-cated 42 arcminutes ESE of mag +4.1 DeltaCeti (westernmost of the trio of stars mark-ing Cetus head), M77 is another face-onspiral. This mag +8.9 galaxy has a reason-ably large core region and is 60 million lightyears away.

    The South Galactic Pole lies in the ratherobscure constellation Sculptor, low over thesouthern horizon from the UK on an au-tumn evening. Here, in 1783, Caroline Her-schel discovered the comparatively bright(mag +7.1) NGC 253, sometimes known asthe Silver Coin galaxy. A multi-armed spi-ral, this is presented quite close to edge-on,giving it a relatively high surface brightness.

    Under good conditions, it should be visiblein binoculars and small telescopes, about7.5 south of the second-magnitude starDiphda (Beta Ceti, itself on a line down-wards to the horizon from the eastern sideof the Square of Pegasus). This places NGC253 rather low in our skies even in south-ern England it culminates only about 15up: were it a little farther north, it wouldsurely be better known. NGC 253 is thebrightest and largest member of a group ofgalaxies some 10 million light years away,which may be the closest to our LocalGroup.

    Neil Bone

    The bright supernova SN 2002ap in M74, imaged by Martin Mobberley. Left: 2002 Feb 14,soon after discovery; right: remarkably, still visible on 2002 Nov 26. M. P. Mobberley.

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    Sky notes

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    2004 October 9The Astronomer Annual General Meet-ing, St Marys Church Hall, Basingstoke,Hants. Speakers include Jim Muirden, DrHugh Jones, Mark Kidger, Damian Peach, ColinHenshaw. Prior booking essential, please see

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    2004 October 2224Variable Star Section ResidentialWeekend, at Alston Hall, Preston, Lancs.For further details contact Roger Pickard,rdp@star. ukc.ac.uk, or see the VSS Webpage, www.britastro.org/vss/

    2004 October 27BAA Annual General Meeting, 17.30 hrsat the Geological Society, Burlington House,

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    2004 November 6Leeds Astronomical Society Astromeet2004, at the Brunswick Building, Bruns-wick Terrace, Leeds LS2. Doors open 09.00,first speaker 10.00, meeting closes 18.30.Speakers include Allan Chapman, RobJeffries, Duncan Lorimer, Nick James &Prof Mike Merrifield (University of Not-tingham). Cost 8 on the door. More detailsfrom www.leedsastronomy.org.uk

    2004 November 27BAA Joint Meeting with the Royal Me-teorological Society (all day). Detailson opposite page.

    2004 December 18BAA Ordinary Meeting and ChristmasLecture, 14.30 hrs at the (reopened and re-furbished) Scientific Societies Lecture Thea-tre, 23 Savile Row, London, W1. The Christ-mas Lecture will be given by Prof DavidHughes, Comets, and their exploration byspacecraft. Book your Christmas Lunchusing the order form in the current Journal.

    2005 January 26BAA Ordinary Meeting, 17.30 hrs at theGeological Society, Burlington House,Piccadilly, London W1.

    2005 January 29BAA Back to Basics Workshop at theSouth Downs Planetarium, Chichester,West Sussex. See below.

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    Then the BAA Back to Basics Workshop is for YOU

    Saturday 2005 January 29

    at the Southdown Planetarium, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 8RP.

    The aim of this event is to help everyone who has recently becomeinterested in astronomy to learn some of the basic techniques anddevelop the interest to its full potential. We have a programme oftalks and practical sessions, and during the day experienced peoplewill be on hand to help answer questions.

    The cost is only 5 per person, including tea & coffee. A cold buffet lunch will beavailable at 5 per head. Bookings and remittance should be sent to the BAA by 10December 2004: please book early as there are only 94 places.

  • J. Br. Astron. Assoc. 114, 5, 2004 301

    The next BAA meetings

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  • Elected officers

    President: Tom Boles, Peel House, Coddenham, Suffolk IP69QY. Tel. (01449) 761950. E-mail: [email protected]

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    Other elected members of CouncilHazel Collett, Richard Flux, Peter Hudson, Geoffrey Johnstone,

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    [email protected]

    Comet: Jonathan Shanklin, 11 City Road, Cambridge CB1 1DP.Tel. (01223) 571250. E-mail: [email protected]

    Meteor: Neil Bone, The Harepath, Mile End Lane, Apuldram,Chichester, West Sussex PO20 7DZ. Tel. (01243) 782679.E-mail: [email protected]

    Aurora: Ron Livesey, Flat 1/2 East Parkside, Edinburgh EH165XJ. Tel. (0131) 662 4220. Section E-mail: [email protected]

    Variable Star: Roger Pickard, 3 The Birches, Shobdon,Leominster, HR6 9NG. Tel. (01568) 708136. E-mail:[email protected]

    Deep Sky: Dr Stewart Moore, Conifers, New Town Road,Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex, CO16 0ER. Tel. (01255) 861 349.Email: [email protected].

    Instruments and Imaging: Bob Marriott, 24 Thirlestane Road,Far Cotton, Northampton NN4 8HD. Tel. (01604) 765190.E-mail: [email protected]

    Computing: Gordon Taylor, 20 Badgers Walk, Deanland WoodPark, Golden Cross, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 3UT. Tel.(01825) 873153. E-mail: [email protected]

    Historical: Anthony Kinder, 16 Atkinson House, Catesby

    Street, London SE17 1QU. Tel. (020) 7701 0626. E-mail:

    [email protected]

    Other officers

    Journal Editor: Mrs Hazel McGee, Starfield, Dedswell Drive,West Clandon, Guildford, Surrey GU4 7TQ. Tel. (01483)222791. E-mail: [email protected]

    Journal Advertising Manager: Dr David Boyd, 5 Silver Lane,West Challow, Wantage, Oxon. OX12 9TX. Tel: (01235)765985. E-mail: [email protected]

    Circulars Editor: Don Miles, 96 Marmion Road, Southsea,Hants. PO5 2BB. Tel. (02392) 591146. Fax: (02392) 862466.E-mail: [email protected]

    Public Relations Officer: Dr John Mason, 51 Orchard Way,Barnham, West Sussex PO22 0HX. Tel. (01243) 554331.Fax: (01243) 554272. E-mail: [email protected]

    Librarian: Anthony Kinder, 16 Atkinson House, Catesby

    Street, London SE17 1QU. Tel. (020) 7701 0626. E-mail:

    [email protected]

    Curator of Instruments: Bob Marriott, 24 Thirlestane Road,Far Cotton, Northampton NN4 8HD. Tel. (01604) 765190.E-mail: [email protected]

    Coordinator, Program and Data Library, Computing Section:Robert Watkins, 7 Shirehampton Close, Webheath, Redditch,Worcs. B97 5PF. Tel. (01527) 404419. E-mail:[email protected]

    Coordinator, Campaign for Dark Skies: Bob Mizon, 38 TheVineries, Colehill, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 2PX. Tel.(01202) 887084. Web page: http://www.dark-skies.org

    Coordinator, Education Committee: Dr Anne UrquhartPotts,Tanyard Farm, Somerford Booths, Congleton, CheshireCW12 2JT. Tel. (01260) 224332. E-mail: [email protected]

    Coordinator, UK Nova/Supernova Patrol: Guy Hurst, 16Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants.RG22 4PP. Tel. (01256) 471074. E-mail: [email protected]

    World Wide Web site manager: Callum Potter, The Cottage,Bredons Hardwick, Tewkesbury, Glos. GL20 7EE. E-mail:[email protected]

    Assistant Secretary: Patricia Barber, Burlington House,Piccadilly, London W1J 0DU. Tel. (020) 7734 4145. Fax (020)7439 4629. E-mail: [email protected]

    Officers and Council Session 20032004

    J. Br. Astron. Assoc. 114, 5, 2004302