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Hello everyone, here is April’s CAS News update from your new Editor!! Due to a technical problem April’s news and updates is being posted on the forum. Hopefully will have the technical glitches sorted by May 😅
The clocks changed on Sunday April 6th giving us all an extra hour of sleep but more importantly it marks the start of our winter season of observing, the start of our open nights at the observatory on Wednesdays and Fridays – yaaayy!! Now for the clouds to stay away.
Brent, Terry and Gary have finished the huge job of sprucing up the 16-inch roof tracks at the observatory just in time for our winter viewing season. Bravo for the amazing effort.
Lots happening for CAS in April, so let’s get stuck in.
======================Important CAS events in April====================================
On Wednesday April 9th – the FIRST CAS private group for 2025
On Friday April 11th is the FIRST CAS public night for 2025
We will be needing volunteers throughout this winter season for the Wednesday nights and the Friday public nights so please head on over to iVolunteer to log your availability to help out – no experience necessary just enthusiasm. Don’t know what a volunteer does? Then read on below for “Why Volunteer?” by our lovely CAS Secretary Mandy Heslop.
On Saturday April 12th is “Yuri Night” at the Wigram Airforce Museum – A day-long expo & CAS will have a presence there
On Tuesday April 15th – is our monthly CAS meeting at the University of Canterbury. This month’s talk is titled “Magnesium Abundance using HERCULES” by Quin A. Davies. Isotopes in stars are not studied as much as overall element amounts. When we measure an element in a star, we usually look at how much of it is present. Magnesium is a common element that has been well studied, but it has three stable isotopes, which may come from different element creation processes. Normally, when we measure magnesium in a star, we see all three isotopes mixed together. However, studying the ratios of these isotopes can help us understand where those stars came from. To measure isotope ratios in stars, we need a very detailed (high-resolution) spectrum. Using HERCULES we can achieve this high resolution*******See important note at end of this post about parking at University of Canterbury************
Friday April 18th – Good Friday
On Saturday April 19th – is April’s CAS Social night at the observatory. Rain or shine we gather there to chat all things astronomy.
Friday April 25th – ANZAC day
=========================Notable astronomical events in April============================
On Tuesday April 22nd, Mercury will be at its highest in the morning sky for those keen astronomers to catch sight with your naked eye the smallest planet in our solar system. On the same morning if you are up to view Mercury then you’ll be able to catch Venus and Saturn naked eye whilst you will need binoculars to catch Neptune in the same area of sky===================================================================================
Why Volunteer?
by Mandy Heslop, CAS Secretary & volunteering since 2019I joined CAS in 2019 with my son Tom who was passionate about space and observing. We started helping when we could before and through Covid times. As the years have passed since then, Tom has found more interests and has less time for coming out to the observatory. I have found myself more and more involved in CAS activities and as a bonus I have found myself surrounded by a great bunch of people – now my CAS family! I’ve got stuck into work around the site helping to freshen the appearance of the place and gardening etc. But mostly I love helping on open nights! I often do the gate, greeting our excited visitors and enjoying looking up and sharing the knowledge I have before they enter. Then if needed I manage a telescope and talk about the target it’s focused on. Throughout the night we change targets and this always gets everyone all excited again. It’s such a buzz! If I’m not needed on a scope I’ll walk around and talk to those in the queues or in the Lodge about their interests or selling merch. Encouraging them to join us by becoming a member. The biggest bonus is this is the best way to learn how to use the CAS telescopes. If you have a love for people, space and talking then don’t be shy! Come along and volunteer!
Mandy ✨=============Coming in May===========================
Look out for the next edition of CASMag on May 1st.
CASMag will be published every alternate month and will contain much more about the activities of CAS, CAS members, monthly star charts I’d like to invite members new and experienced, young and mature to send in your contributions, can be short articles (50 – 100 words) on what your experience has been being a CAS member, what you have learnt, what astronomy projects you’re working on etc. Send your contributions to Editor@cas.org.nz by the 3rd week of the month at the latest. BHT Lecture returns to Christchurch in May so watch for updates on this on the CAS website, Facebook page and email
*********************************IMPORTANT NOTE – UC PARKING *********************************************
There are bollards now installed by the Rehua Building and these will be raised at 6pm daily till 7am. Do not park in the areas by these as you risk getting locked in! Please note its just this one area where the EV chargers are located that has been protected by bollards. All the rest of the campus remains the same. Be wary where you are parking!!
The map link here shows where accessibility parks are.
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