Derby and District Astronomical Society

The Derby & District Astronomical Society (DDAS) was founded in 1974 and is open to all with an interest in astronomy. We currently number around 40 members from all walks of life and whose knowledge of astronomy ranges from complete beginner to advanced. The club's portable LX90 telescope is often brought to these meetings and set up in the garden of The Friends Meeting House if the skies are clear. Mission Statement To familiarise the people of the Derby & District area with the science and hobby of astronomy To offer help and advice on astronomical matters To provide a focus for amateur astronomy in the Derby area To organise regular observing sessions so that all can gain access to the wonders of the night sky To prove that astronomy can be relaxing and fun! Checklist A blanket A jacket Binoculars A simple star chart A flashlight to read the star chart. Cover the lighted end of the flashlight with red paper because red light does not disrupt your night vision as much as white light does. Wait for a night that is clear and dark. You can see more stars when the Moon is not shining brightly. Get away from streetlights. The farther you are from lights, the more stars you can see. Give your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust to the dark.

Product details Product Dimensions: 76.2 x 35.6 x 53.3 cm Boxed-product Weight: 14 Kg Item model number: 0810-90-05

This affordable 10" astrograph is ideal for capturing stunning deep-sky astrophotos Fast f/3.9 focal ratio provides swift widefield imaging performance Enhanced reflectivity aluminum coatings on primary and secondary mirror provide 94% reflectivity Sturdy 2" dual-speed low-profile Crayford focuser permits ultra-fine focus with 11:1 ratio Extended tube length of 7.5" in front of the focuser blocks peripheral light, optimizing image contrast

Winter Stars
The Milky Way. Rigel, Aldebaran, Capella, Procyon, Sirius, Castor and Pollux are the bright stars that make up the large, circular pattern. In 2014, the planet Jupiter is in the midst of the Winter Circle. Follow the links below to learn more about this easy-to-find star pattern.

Summer Stars
The Summer Triangle is an astronomical asterism involving an imaginary triangle drawn on the northern hemisphere's celestial sphere, with its defining vertices at Altair, Deneb, and Vega, the brightest stars in the three constellations of Aquila, Cygnus, and Lyra, respectively.

Equinox star system

Precedence Studies

http://spaces.imperial.edu/russell.lavery/As t100/Lectures/Ast100Topic05.html

http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~catchpol/