Next Meeting: Wednesday September 10th at 8:00pm Charles Messier - Comet Hunter Roger O’Brien

HAG Membership details: •£10 per year - renewable at end of July* •Non-members £2.00 first 3 meetings then annual membership subscription due pro rata for remaining meetings. •Free to under 18s and full time students. Proof of status may be required. •Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

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Visitors welcome - £2.00 per meeting

This meeting will be held at: University of Hertfordshire Lindop Building College Lane Hatfield AL10 9AB (What 3 words: stars.stones.energetic) and simultaneously on Zoom. There is plenty of parking space around the venue which is free after 19:00

We're diving into the fascinating world of 18th- century astronomy, and specifically, the remarkable work of Charles Messier. Dubbed the "Comet Ferret," by King Louis XV of France, Messier was a prodigious observer, yet ironically, his most enduring legacy isn't about comets at all. Instead, it's his ground-breaking catalogue of diffuse celestial objects – nebulae and star clusters – that truly cemented his place in scientific history. We'll explore how his meticulous observations, initially intended to avoid confusion with comets, inadvertently provided future generations with a foundational map of the deep sky, shaping our understanding of the cosmos even today. Join us as we uncover the story behind the famous Messier objects and the man who charted them. After six decades, Roger O’Brien is still an amateur astronomer. Whilst working for 26 years in a bank in the City, he “survived” to earn a BSc in Astronomy and began teaching. One course was held at the Sele School and it was students from that course, who founded the Hertford Astronomy Group. He says that one of his proudest moments was to be elected President of HAG..

Visitors most welcome at meetings or on Zoom

ZOOM

Visual Observing Sessions Our visual observing group is now up and running. You can learn more here or if you want to jump straight in then just complete the Visual Observing Response form below and we’ll let you know when we are next meeting. Next session - To be announced

HAGAS

The next meeting of astrophotography group is:

To Be Announced Room 1A161 Lindop Building College Lane Hatfield AL10 9AB

March 29 Partial Solar Eclipse Hertford Castle

More events

HAG are going to this so if you want to come along and help demonstrate what our club is about we would really enjoy your company. We’ll even buy you an ice cream!

Family Day Sunday 24th August, Hertford Castle Details of times are to be confirmed but likely to be similar to the Wheathampstead event. We will confirm any alterations.

Next Meeting: Wednesday September 10th at 8:00pm Charles Messier - Comet Hunter Roger O’Brien

We're diving into the fascinating world of 18th-century astronomy, and specifically, the remarkable work of Charles Messier. Dubbed the "Comet Ferret," by King Louis XV of France, Messier was a prodigious observer, yet ironically, his most enduring legacy isn't about comets at all. Instead, it's his ground-breaking catalogue of diffuse celestial objects – nebulae and star clusters – that truly cemented his place in scientific history. We'll explore how his meticulous observations, initially intended to avoid confusion with comets, inadvertently provided future generations with a foundational map of the deep sky, shaping our understanding of the cosmos even today. Join us as we uncover the story behind the famous Messier objects and the man who charted them. After six decades, Roger O’Brien is still an amateur astronomer. Whilst working for 26 years in a bank in the City, he “survived” to earn a BSc in Astronomy and began teaching. One course was held at the Sele School and it was students from that course, who founded the Hertford Astronomy Group. He says that one of his proudest moments was to be elected President of HAG..

Visitors most welcome at meetings or on Zoom