THE BRITISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION COMES TO ORKNEY
An opportunity to meet some of the UK’s leading amateur astronomers in a friendly setting of talks, teas and a lunch. The British Astronomy Association was formed in 1890, and over the years its members have made many night sky discoveries. From time to time it holds a meeting outwith London, and this year is coming to Orkney at Festival time.
Tickets for a package of the full group of talks, refreshments at the breaks and a buffet lunch on Saturday 6 September, can be bought from the BAA direct. Alternatively all the individual talks are covered by the Festival LecturePass, or tickets for particular talks can be purchased through the Festival ticketing system.
The Green Flash
10.00 am – 11.00 am
It’s a fleeting and beautiful sunset phenomenon, which has inspired storytellers from ancient Egypt to the present day. Mike Frost is director of the BAA’s Historical Section.
Unusual phenomena of the Northern Lights – STEVE, SAID, SAR and others
11.30 am – 12.30 am
What we have learned about the aurora through time. Sandra Brantingham is director of the BAA’s Aurora and NLC Section.
This Solar Cycle
2.00 pm – 2.30 pm
Sky Notes
2.30 pm – 3.00 pm
How Solar Cycle 25 is progressing and the latest information from NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mission to the sun’s corona. Lyn Smith is director of the BAA’s Solar Section.
A look back at recent observations of the night sky and a look forward to events coming up in the next couple of months. Nick James is director of the BAA’s Comet Section.
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey
3.30 pm – 4.30 pm
A look at its story, scientific discoveries, and what we can expect from it in the next few years. Dr Anne-Marie Weijmans is a Reader in Astrophysics at the University of St Andrews.
