Latest AGWA Newsletter 

APRIL 2007 NEWSLETTER

Merchandise 

  Baseball Cap  $10         Beanie $12

The Astronomical Group of Western Australia (AGWA) was formed to provide activity and networking for amateur astronomers, with or without their own telescopes.

Activities throughout the year include: Field trips, seminars by noted astronomers, workshops and special events.

Membership benefits include:

*                Use of the AGWA Observatory (on payment of $30 Single or $45 Family p.a.)

*                A monthly newsletter.

*                Personal discounts to Golden Grove.

*                A discount for group bookings to Perth Observatory (30 or more people).

*                Discounts on selected products from BTOW.

*                Members only special events ie meteor watching, occultations and eclipses.

*                Lectures/seminars.

*                Workshops on CCD imaging, astrophotography, telescopes etc.

*                New product demonstrations.

*                Visits to sites around WA.

Membership to AGWA is available FREE over the internet, just send your details to btow@aapt.net.au

If you are not on the internet and would like to join,  send us your name address and a book of stamps and we will post out the monthly newsletter to you.

The monthly meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month at BTOW in MALAGA. The doors open at 7:00 p.m. for socialising before the talks begin around 7:30 p.m.  After a break at about 8:30 and during which we have tea, coffee or Milo and more socialising, the group reconvenes for further talks and any announcements. Often we have an address by a visiting speaker as a part of the programme and members likewise often address the meeting. The cost for attending the meetings is $2. 

On Saturday nights when there is no Moon and the weather is favourable, we go observing faint    objects away from the light pollution of the city. Our venue for this purpose is a private observatory on the property of Golden Grove, a tourist citrus orchard in the Chittering valley out of Bullsbrook. Cost $30 for a yearly pass for 1 Adult and $45 for a family. 

On Saturday nights when the Moon is not too close to full, and the weather is clement, we observe the Moon and planets from the lookout platform atop the Mount Flora   Museum in the Laurie Strutt Reserve in Elvire Street, Waterman.  Cost Free. 

Visitors and guests are always welcome to join us in these activities. 

There are special interest groups in AGWA for owners of various telescopes. Other special interest groups may be formed by any members who share a particular astronomical interest or equipment. If your interest is not already catered to by such a group, find other members with the same interest and form a group. The club library at BTOW includes a register of special interests among the members. This is a good place to start. In view, however, of the fact that many members may be unaware of the register's existence, placing an article in the club newsletter, the AGWA  OBSERVER, seeking    support for such a group may be worthwhile. Submit any articles for the OBSERVER to David Theobald, at BTOW, or Darrel Grant. David's and Darrel's contact details are at the foot of the last page of every issue of the OBSERVER. 

Trips into the country for special astronomical events, such as solar eclipses, are arranged among the members from time to time. These are announced at the meetings and subsequently published in the OBSERVER well in advance, so that all members who are interested can discuss the details among themselves. 

HOW TO GET TO GOLDEN GROVE

Travel North on the Great Northern Highway, as you enter Bullsbrook, take the right hand turning, signed Chittering Rd. Travel 14 k’s down this rd, on the right hand side you will pass a sign for “Peace be Still” guesthouse. Just past this on the right hand side is the Golden Grove  Tea rooms, turn into the drive and go between the tea rooms and the building on your right. Go over the bridge and in front of you is the   sorting shed, look to the left and you will see a large dish and two sheds to the right of the dish, those two buildings are the Golden Grove  Observatory. Park your car in the large area by the sorting shed and walk down to the observatory.

DATES FOR GOLDEN GROVE DEEP SKY OBSERVING & Mt FLORA LUNAR AND PLANETARY NIGHTS 2005

10 December Mount Flora  /  17 December Mount Flora  /  31 December Golden Grove

January 2007     FEBRUARY 2007