Hi,

Perhaps we could hold formal ones of these 2 weeks after a formal meeting, if it does not clash with committee meetings else 1 or 3 weeks after. Of course we can have one at any time and anywhere.

A list of possible topics:

Telescopes:
Newtonians
Dobsonians
Refractors
Catadioptrics

Mounts:
GEM - German Equatorial Mount
Dobsonian Platform
Fork
Split Ring
English

Eyepieces:
Orthoscopic, Plossl and Symmetrical
Wide field - Erfle, Panoptic, Paragon
Ultra wide field - Nagler, UWAN, Ethos

Celestial Navigation:
Constellations
Messier Objects
Burnhams Celestial Handbook
Catalogues
Binoculars - Learning the sky
GEM Setting Circles
GEM Go To
Fork Go To
Dobsonian Go to and Push To

Objects to view: Physics and observing techniques
The Sun - Safety, Solar Filters
The Moon
The Inner planets
The Outer Planets
Stars
Stellar Clusters
Gaseous Nebulae
Galaxies
Universe!

Amateur Telescope Making:
Dobsonians
Equatorial Platforms
Mirror Making

Observing:
Visual
Drawing
Photography
DSLR
CCD
Cooled CCD
Information Theory
Image Processing

Any more suggestions?

Cheers. Andrew.

Andrew,

Your list seems comprehensive. However, I would like to add another topic, namely "Using astronomy software."

I personally use Guide 8, and Starry Night pro 5. I am always amazed when Gary includes a finder chart from Guide 8 in his e-mails. Guide 8 must have far more facilities than I am aware off.

Geoff.

Guide is simply the best Planetarium software available - if you just want
a serious no nonsense programme, with dozens of catalogues and many add-ons
(including a new link to UCAC-3).

Gary