European Astrofest 3-4 February 2006

[Robin Scagell]

The next European Astrofest will be held on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 February 2006 at the usual venue, Kensington Town Hall. There will be as SPA stand as usual in the Lower Hall and we look forward to meeting members there.

The star speaker this year is Stephen O'Meara, who is recognized as being
the world’s greatest living visual observer -- his achievements include the
first visual sighting of Halley's Comet in 1985, the pre-Voyager discovery
of the spokes in Saturn’s B ring and determining visually the rotation
period of Uranus.

Also speaking will be Dan Green, head of the IAU's telegram bureau in
Harvard, who among other things will be discussing the question of how many
planets there are in the Solar System.

The official website is
http://www.astronomynow.com/astrofest/

[joe]

I have always enjoyed Astrofest but never plucked up the courage to say hello to the stout fellows and ladies behind the SPA stand. I will be doing my best to get over to London for that weekend and was wondering if anyone would be interested in an informal rendezvous if they plan on attending. Perhaps this happens anyway amongst the long standing members, etc. so I may be too late or something in a sad, "don't call us, we'll call you manner" Anyway, early days, but just thought I'd mention it in case any balls started rolling, I'm sure many members pop by and say hello regularly. Just thought it would be nice if a bunch met at the same time. (There doesn't seem to be any good pubs around there though!)

[Robin Scagell]

Er, stout fellows?

Seriously, we are always very pleased to meet members so please introduce yourself -- though preferably not during a busy period when we are trying to sign up new members!

People do usually wander off to a pub and have a meal on the Friday evening, though I can't recall its name. I was not keen on it for food as I found the atmosphere too smoky.

Our worthy webmaster is the pub specialist so I will leave it up to him to arrange the venue.

Collapse of stout party.

Robin

[KendalAstronomer]

This links into the astrofest part of the site:

http://www.astronomynow.com/astrofest/exhibitors.html

Though clicking on the conference program link (ie the index page) will return you to the Astronomy Now main site index page!

The wonders of modern technology...

[spawebmaster]

I haven't been very involved in any eating activities on the Friday night but a great tradition has been to go to a very fine Youngs pub in Kensington after it all ends on the Saturday night - the name momentarily escapes me but it has been in every edition of the Good Beer Guide. It would be great to meet up there, Joe (and presumably at the stand too!)

ATB

Paul

[joe]

That sounds very appealing Paul.

[Robin Scagell]

Though clicking on the conference program link (ie the index page) will return you to the Astronomy Now main site index page!

Astronomy Now tell me that they were unaware that their Astrofest page wasn't working -- what you found was a subsidiary page. Their team of experts are no doubt working through the night to sort out the problem. Or rather the chap whose job it is will get round to it when he can.

Robin