Meetings

The Junior Section meeting are held on the second Friday of each month at the ASV Lodge in Burwood.  Juniors and their parent/guardian are welcome to come along to observe and partake in the activities prior to making a commitment to join the Astronomical Society of Victoria. Please contact the Director on the phone number listed below. Parents/Guardians are very welcome and are expected to accompany their child for the duration of the meeting and enjoy the activities. 

Meetings start at 7.00 pm  (7:30pm during daylight saving) and lasts approximately 1-½ hours. The meeting room is opened

2010 Dates are Friday

12th Feb, 12th Mar, 9th April, 14th May, 11th June, 9th July, 13th August, 10th September, 8th October, 12th November, 10th December

Registration

A Junior Section Registration Form which is handed out at our meetings, is used to record details of your address, phone number, ASV Membership Number etc, as well as your interests in the field of astronomy. Please complete the 2010 form and return it to me at the junior meeting or by posting it to 4 Mortimer St Heidelberg 3084. (When joining the ASV, the ASV Membership Application Form along with the appropriate fee is sent to the Membership Secretary at GPO Box 1059 Melbourne 3001.) If possible, please bring the following items to each meeting.  A pen or pencil; torch with a red filter (Red cellophane held with an elastic band is fine) and Binoculars if you have access to them.  The ASV can loan you a pair on the night if you don’t have any. For past members please bring your folder, logbook and Planisphere.  New members will be issued with a folder and logbook. All other materials will be provided for our activities.  Weather permitting, we will be observing through our telescopes.  If you have a telescope, you are most welcome to bring it along.  We can if necessary, help you to set it up, teach you how to use it and all enjoy an extra instrument. 

Objectives

The overall objective will be to encourage junior members in their study of Astronomy, and to support and foster individual interests within the discipline.An important aspect will be the acquiring of practical skills of observation based on the fundamental understanding of the motion of the stars, moon and planets across the sky. Recording of your observations in a logbook is encouraged. 

Program

The program will involve the following: - 

Very basic starting point of getting to know the Bright Stars and the Constellations.

Motion of the Stars in the sky. The colour and composition of stars.

Identification of the Planets and their motion across the sky. 

Planetary features including recent observations from space probes. 

Making and using star charts; Using the planisphere. 

The Fabulous Moon: The phases and features on the Moon. Photographing the Moon. 

Identification of the Messier Objects, Galaxies, Nebulae, Double Stars, Meteor showers, Comets etc.  

Composition of these objects. 

Using the ASV Year Book and other similar publications.

Emphasis will be given to practical observations using the naked eye, binoculars and telescopes. 

Observation of the Sun will be done in conjunction with the Solar Section. It is most important to emphasise the potential hazards and how instruments are fitted with special solar filters to make viewing safe.

IMPORTANT: Never look at the Sun with your naked eyes or through binoculars or telescope !

If you have any queries please contact me on 9459-7697

Arthur Coombs,

Section Director.