- Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society
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Coordinates: 51°26′57″N 0°10′52″E / 51.4491°N 0.1812°E
Crayford 
Crayford
Crayford shown within Greater LondonRegion London Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Police Metropolitan Fire London Ambulance London EU Parliament London List of places: UK • England • London Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society
Contents
History
There have been classes on astronomy at Crayford since the 1950s, the advanced astronomy course was originally run by Percy Wilkins and the society was subsequently estabilshed in 1961, by Gordon Taylor who travelled from Herstmonceux (former site of Royal Observatory Greenwich) to lecture on Astronomy at Crayford Manor House, he set-up the society to co-ordinate student activities with an emphasis on serious practical work [1].
Distinguished members
- John Wall, inventor and telescope maker and member of Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society, named the popular zero backlash Crayford Eyepiece Mount after the area.
- Roger Pickard, Past president of the British Astronomical Association 2008 & 2009
- Gordon Taylor, Founder, Past President of the BAA, Past Director of the Computing Section of the BAA
Current activities
The Advanced Astronomy course is administered by Bexley college but all lectures [2][3] are organised by the Society.
As well as weekly Lectures in term time, outside term time the society meets at the societies observatory which houses a 24 inch (60 cm) telescope. Members of the society are actively interested in most areas of Astronomy
Membership
Membership to the society is open to all astronomy students past and present who have attended lectures at Bexley college, Belvedere, London, England. Memberships is free to current astronomy students.
Events
In term time we have lectures from visiting professors. Once per month there is a 'society Night' where society members show their latest activities. Occasionally (~6 times per year) we meet for local observing sessions. As a group we attend many astronomical events such as Astrofest, BAA Winchester Weekend, Kelling Heath Star Party (Spring and Autumn).
Publications
Members of the society have published many papers[4], including papers in the following journals... Journal British Astronomical Association (29 Papers as of 2010) Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Soiciety (1 paper as of 2010) Astronomy Now (4 articles as of 2010) Sky and Telescope (4 articles as of 2010) Practical Astronomy (1 article as of 2010) Observatory (1 article as of 2010) IBVS (1 article as of 2010)
Society members have also produce a number of shorter articles and book reviews a full list is available here
Location
The Observatory and Class are located at 51°27′30.2868″N 00°10′20.316″E / 51.458413°N 0.17231°E.
Mayplace Road East,
Crayford,
DA1 4HB
Travelling to the society
CMHAS is located in the London Borough of Bexley in south east London.
Closest rail stations
Barnehurst Southeastern Trains (Bexleyheath Line)
Crayford Southeastern Trains(Crayford Line)
Bus route
492 Bus
Car parking
Space for about 70 cars plus some on road parking
References
- ^ See list of papers published by CMHAS members
- ^ Programme of current lectures
- ^ Historical Lists of Lectures
- ^ See list of papers published by CMHAS members
External links
Categories:- Astronomy in the United Kingdom
- Amateur astronomy organizations
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