If you would like to contribute to this Your Comments page please email us your comments. Comments must be on the subject of Astronomy and appropriate for this web site.
Please give your comment a Title, Date, Time and add your Name.
Title : Space is exciting!!
Date : 27 Sep 2014
Time : 2:00pm
Comment
Space is exciting!!
Name : Harry Squirrell (Aged 5)
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Title : Jupiter has 67 moons.
Date : 27 Sep 2014
Time : 2:00pm
Comment
We looked through the telescopes at Westgate Bay. I learned Jupiter has 67 moons.
Name : Lewis Badger (Aged 8)
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Title : Lewisham Sports Club members
Date : 20 Sep 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
I thought it was brilliant because the telescopes are powerful and the info was very true.
Name : Matthew Tyrrell (Aged 11).
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Title : Lewisham Sports Club members
Date : 20 Sep 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
I did enjoy myself, I looked through Gill's telescope and saw a bird.
Name : Mark.
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Title : Lewisham Sports Club members
Date : 20 Sep 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
I really enjoyed looking through the telescopes and I am interested in Space.
Name : Steve.
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Title : Lewisham Sports Club members
Date : 20 Sep 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
I enjoyed looking through the telescope and saw an island.
Name : Louise.
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Title : Lewisham Sports Club members
Date : 20 Sep 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
I enjoyed looking through the telescope and saw a bird.
Name : Kelly.
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Title : Learning about Astronomy.
Date : 13 Sep 2014
Time : 7:00pm
Comment
I had great fun and learnt a lot about Astronomy.
Name : Chloe (Aged 9).
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Title : Learning about Cassiopia and the Earth.
Date : 9 Sep 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
(This is what he told his Dad to write down!)
I learned so much today. Parts of our planet are very cold and parts are very hot like deserts. I used a torch on a model globe to pretend to be a sun showing the day and night parts of our planet. And tonight I will look for Cassiopia - a big "W" in the sky!
Name : Taidgh Woodhead (Aged 4) from London.
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Title : Learning about the Summer Triangle.
Date : 30 Aug 2014
Time : 3:20pm
Comment
I learnt something (about the Summer Triangle Ed.) today that I did not know.
Name : Perrie (Aged 9) from Lewisham.
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Title : Learning about Saturn.
Date : 30 Aug 2014
Time : 3:10pm
Comment
We really enjoyed looking through the telescopes and learning about the size of things in space...rocks the size of houses around Saturn!!!
Name : William (7), Toby (6), Olivia (6), Scarlett (3), Hector (3) all from Maidstone.
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Title : Learning about Jupiter.
Date : 30 Aug 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
I learnt that Jupiter has got 67 moons.
Name : William (Aged 7) from Maidstone.
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Title : Learning about the mountain on Mars!
Date : 30 Aug 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
My son Jensen (3yrs) had great fun looking at the planets and learning about the mountain on Mars! Brilliant fun! Thankyou.
Name : Janine Fordom from Thanet
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Title : Thanet Astronomy Group - One year at West Bay Cafe.
Date : 11 Aug 2014
Time : 10am
Comment
In August 2013 we set up our telescopes outside the West Bay Cafe with the intention of attracting the public interest in astronomy, one year later we continue to be both astonished and delighted by the response. Our weekly Saturday afternoon sessions have proved very popular and as yet we have not missed one. A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to the success of the group.
Name : George Ward. Treasurer - Thanet Astronomy Group
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Title : Supporting the Brownies with their Stargazing Badge
Date : 11 July 2014
Time : 7pm
Comment
Awesome...Thank you so much! Looking forward to putting it all into practice with the Brownies!
Name : Brown Owl ...8th Ramsgate East Brownies ...
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Title : Learning about the solar system
Date : 28 June 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
Thank you for answering my question on whether Pluto is a planet or a star. It is a Plutoid!
N.B. A Plutoid is a dwarf planet that orbits the sun at a greater distance on average than Neptune.(Gill. TAG)
Name : Ross (Aged 10).
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Title : Learning about the solar system
Date : 28 June 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
Thanks for letting us look through the telescopes and teaching us about the Solar System.
Name : Paul and Oden (Aged 7).
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Title : Stargazing Course
Date : 14 Jun 2014
Time : 2:00pm
Comment
I attended the first evening of the Star Gazing Course on Wednesday and really enjoyed it. Lots of sensible, easy to understand information. Lovely to chat this afternoon to gain even more information and be able to ask questions to clarify. A pleasant way to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon!
Name : Sheila Bull.
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Title : Summer visitors to the JAC & Gill Club
Date : 10 May 2014
Time : 3:30pm
Comment
Thank you for letting me help you set up the telescope.
Name : Miles (Aged 7).
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Title : Summer visitors to the JAC & Gill Club
Date : 10 May 2014
Time : 3:30pm
Comment
Felt very welcome and my son loved it!
Name : Gary and son Miles.
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Title : Summer visitors to the JAC & Gill Club
Date : 3 May 2014
Time : 3:30pm
Comment
Thank you for having me. I really enjoyed it. I think I will come again when I visit my Granny and Grandpa in the Summer holidays. See you then!
Name : Boris (Aged 8).
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Title : JAC & Gill Club (the junior wing of Thanet Astronomy Group
Date : 3 May 2014
Time : 3:15pm
Comment
My daughter is two (almost 3) and she very much enjoyed sitting with the lady (Gill Palmer) who was leading the children's group this afternoon. She listened nicely and answered some questions...well done for keeping her engaged and interested. Unfortunately, we live in London but if we lived here, we would bring her to the group every week! Thanks very much!
Name : Helen Gregory from Walthamstow (and Taya 2 and three quarters).
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Title : There are some amazing things to see
Date : 19 Apr 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
I thought this was very fascinating and there were some amazing things to see.
Name : Thomas Oliver from Westgate-on-sea.
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Title : The Sky is not the limit, it's only just the beginning !
Date : 19 Apr 2014
Time : 2:30pm
Comment
I am very interested and might want to do astronomy when I am older.
Name : Joshua (Aged 10)
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Title : From London to Margate next stop the Stars !
Date : 19 Apr 2014
Time : 2:20pm
Comment
We live in North London but we come down here on weekends to ride our bikes, so would love to come and watch the stars.
Name : Kalinka (Mum) Keera and Zac (Twins) from London.
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Title : Enjoy your journey
Date : 19 Apr 2014
Time : 2:00pm
Comment
The first thing you learn when you look through a telescope is that we are on a great big ball floating through space...Your journey has just begun...ENJOY!
Name : Michael Carden from Herne Bay.
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Title : Beginners Guide to Stargazing Course
Date : 12 Apr 2014
Time : 10:00pm
Comment
I have learnt so much more on these courses than I could ever learn by reading books as I prefer the visual side of learning which I can now use by reading the books and learning more. Thankyou!
Name : Sid.
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Title : Stellarium Help
Date : 12 Apr 2014
Time : 10:00pm
Comment
Thanks for explaining how easy it is to find stars and planets on Stellarium. I can now use the toolbars to program in which stars, planets or space station I want to search for at a particular time or date. The graphics are brilliant, especially when you want to zoom in on something specific! Love the option where you can see what Jupiter looks like from one of its moons!!!
Name : : Gill.
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Title : Stellarium Help
Date : 12 Apr 2014
Time : 10:00pm
Comment
Question :- I need to put in some co-ordinates to identify particular stars or planets on Stellarium. Where do we get them ?
Answer :- In Stellarium there are two angles that you can come at this question.
............1.) You have seen a Star or other Object in the sky.
............... In this case you will need to have a compass to note the direction the object lies in (its Azimuth).
............... and an old school protractor to estimate its angle above the horizon (its Altitude)
............... and a watch to note the time.
............... then you can set stellarium to the correct time, date and direction, then click on the object in the same location to identify it.
............2.) You want to find a Star or other object in the sky.
............... In this case you will have a name of a Star or other Object you want to find.
............... Start Stellariun and press the [F3] key on the keyboard, this will open the search window.
............... Type in the name of the object you want to find and press the [Return] key.
............... Stellarium will then display the object and tell you the Altitude and Azimuth information in the top right corner.
............... If you are looking at the 'Grass' or its Daylight adjust the time and date until you can see the object. This will tell you when you can see the object.
Name : :Tony Clifford.
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Title : Stellarium Help
Date : 12 Apr 2014
Time : 10:00pm
Comment
I have been having trouble getting Stellarium on my laptop, so I brought it in to the evening meeting and Danny and George sorted it out for me. A big thankyou to you both!
Name : : Shirl Palmer.
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Title : Beginners Guide to Stargazing Course
Date : 12 Apr 2014
Time : 10:00pm
Comment
I have thoroughly enjoyed all 3 courses. I knew nothing before I started and now know enough to get me started and continue searching the night sky. Thanks for setting up Thanet Astronomy Group!
Name : :Rita
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Title : I saw the moon and mars.
Date : 12 Apr 2014
Time : 3:30pm
Comment
When I looked in Lewis' telescope in the night, I saw the moon and mars.
Name : :Faith (Aged 6)
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Title : I got my own telescope for my birthday.
Date : 12 Apr 2014
Time : 3:30pm
Comment
I got my own telescope for my birthday. Gill and Danny are going to look at it with me so I can learn to use it properly. I met a new friend today who has his own telescope too!
Name : :Lewis (Aged 10)
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Title : The Sky is Exciting !
Date : 12 Apr 2014
Time : 3:10pm
Comment
I learnt about photography in Astronomy. Definitely going to come back to gain more knowledge. The sky is exciting!
Name : Katie from Ramsgate
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Title : Everythings upside down ?
Date : 12 Apr 2014
Time : 2:10pm
Comment
Today I learnt that some telescope pictures are upside down...p.s. weird!
Name : Jake (Age 9) from Westgate
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Title : Thanet Astronomy Group JAC and Gill club
Date : 11 Apr 2014
Time : 9:30pm
Comment
We were really lucky this evening to see the craters on the Moon, Jupiter and 4 of its moons in the middle of Gemini, Casseopia, Orion and the Plough. We even had a guest appearance from the International Space Station which flew right over West Bay!!! What a fantastic way to start our Junior Astronomy Club...Reach for the stars Astrokids! from Gill
Name : Gill Palmer
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Title : Thanet Astronomy Group JAC and Gill club
Date : 11 Apr 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
A very big thank you to all the children and parents who came to our first JAC and Gill club! We all had a fun afternoon on the West Bay prom learning about the Planets and Stars together.
Name : Gill Palmer
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Title : Thanet Astronomy Group Saturday meeting
Date : 5 Apr 2014
Time : 2:00pm
Comment
I brought my own telescope to West Bay today and I saw the WW2 forts out at sea. I made a new friend too!
Name : George (9 years old) from Ramsgate
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Title : Thanet Astronomy Group continues to grow week by week
Date : 23 Mar 2014
Time : 11:30pm
Comment
Yesterday was a quiet sort of day, and yet we still added another 5 would be astronomers to our contact list, which continues to grow week by week. Well done guys.
Name : George
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Title : I saw a wind farm
Date : 22 Mar 2014
Time : 2:00pm
Comment
Today I saw a small hut and a few people a long way away. Also I saw a wind farm. It was around 30 miles away.
Name : Frankie (9 years old) and Mikey (5 years old) from Westgate
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Title : I came to your "Jupiter and its Moons" evening and loved it!
Date : 22 Mar 2014
Time : 1:30pm
Comment
I came to your "Jupiter and its Moons" evening and loved it! I work most Saturdays but will keep in touch as much as possible.
Name : Ann Fraser from Whitstable
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Title : Thanks to these guys, my enthusiasm is 1,000 x !
Date : 15 Mar 2014
Time : 3:30pm
Comment
When I first got my telescope for Christmas from my husband, I was thrilled and thought it was the most thoughtful present he'd ever given me! Then I started to use it and was really disappointed as the white blobs which were stars were only a bit bigger through the lens as I didn't understand how to make the best use of my telescope! Now, thanks to these guys, my enthusiasm has returned 1,000x over as I am beginning to navigate the sky for myself and see so much more than I thought I could at first. I can even see 4 of Jupiter's moons in my little telescope and I didn't even know it had one! Turns out it's got 67!!! I'm no expert, but I've learnt so much in the last 6 months that I can now help other beginners to discover the amazing world of Astronomy!
Name : Gill from Birchington
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Title : I saw people with telescopes.
Date : 15 Mar 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
I've always been interested in the concept of space, astronomy and the thought of aliens and I saw people with telescopes. So I walked over and by 5 minutes I had seen a photo of Jupiter.
Name : Sophie
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Title : I was amazed to see Jupiter...it's one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed!
Date : 15 Mar 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
I was walking by on the prom this afternoon and stopped to read the sign. George showed me some of his Astro photographs.I was amazed to see Jupiter...it's one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed. Fantastic!
Name : Gabby
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Title : The Star gazing evening last week was great
Date : 15 Mar 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
The Star gazing evening last week was great - stars, planets and the moon were all seen clearly.
Name : Chris W. from Westgate
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Title : We had a very enjoyable afternoon
Date : 15 Mar 2014
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
We had a very enjoyable afternoon. Danny was very helpful in setting up George's telescope he got for Christmas. Thank you.
Name : Dave and Grandson George (9 years old)
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Title : Very interesting friendly people
Date : 15 Mar 2014
Time : 2:40pm
Comment
Very interesting friendly people and informative. Gillian was excellent with the children. Thanks!
Name : Karen
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Title : WWII Sea Forts Spotted
Date : 15 Mar 2014
Time : 2:30pm
Comment
I saw 6 out of the 12 World War 2 sea forts through a telescope, they were far out at sea.
Name : Oliver (10 years old) from Margate
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Title : Telescopes at the Saturday meeting
Date : 15 Mar 2014
Time : 2:30pm
Comment
Looking through a telescope is better than your eyesight because things are bigger.
Name : Emily (8 years old) from London
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Title : Questions at the Saturday meeting
Date : 15 Mar 2014
Time : 2:00pm
Comment
Excellent advice and help given. So friendly and no question too silly to ask. Thank you so much.
Name : Sheila and Brian Bull
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Title : I have reached for the stars and found them at last!
Date : 9 Mar 2014
Time : 10:00am
Comment
WOW! A big thank you to all the people on the Stargazing course, who were able to join us at the course viewing night! What a brilliant night we had to view everything we set out to see! It was great to be able compare the moon and Jupiter through so many different telescopes (I think there were 11 at one point) and I saw my first nebula...M42 in Orion's sword! The evening was even more special because I have made so many new friends who share the same passion. I really feel like I have reached for the stars and found them at last!
Name : Gill P
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Title : Happy Astronomy Week
Date : 8 Mar 2014
Time : 3:30pm
Comment
Happy Astronomy Week everyone! Tonight is our Stargazing course viewing Night, hopefully! Should be out of this world!!!
Name : Gill P
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Title : What a lovely afternoon to sit at West Bay with the Astronomy Group
Date : 8 Mar 2014
Time : 3:30pm
Comment
What a lovely afternoon to sit at West Bay with the Astronomy Group. First, I looked through George's telescope at the sun (using a sun filter of course because it was so bright) before it disappeared behind a few whispy clouds...then I was asked if I'd like to see the moon in the daytime as it was getting high in the sky by 3pm...can't wait to see the stars and Jupiter tonight if it's still clear...then I'll have seen the full set in one day! Really looking forward to part 2 of the course next week!
Name : Freda (OAP) from Birchington
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Title : Saturday Free Public meeting
Date : 8 Mar 2014
Time : 2:50pm
Comment
I always wanted to be a star but I dimmed. So now I look at the stars with this group and I love it!
Name : Juliette from Westgate
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Title : Saturday Free Public meeting
Date : 8 Mar 2014
Time : 2:35pm
Comment
Love space! LOL!
Name : Ruby and Ellise
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Title : Saturday Free Public meeting
Date : 8 Mar 2014
Time : 2:30pm
Comment
We've had great fun today looking through the telescopes. We will look for Jupiter at home tonight.
Name : Max and Jemma (Twins aged 5 years old)
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Title : Saturday Free Public meeting
Date : 8 Mar 2014
Time : 2:00pm
Comment
Today we brought our own telescope to the club.
Name : William (7 years old) from Westgate.
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Title : Saturday Free Public meeting
Date : 8 Mar 2014
Time : 1:30pm
Comment
I saw a house on top of a cliff and I saw someone riding a bike a long way away...it was amazing! :)
Name : Emily (8 years old) from Maidstone
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Title : Saturday Free Public meeting
Date : 8 Mar 2014
Time : 1:00pm
Comment
Lovely unexpected treat to meet Gill and have her explain a little about Astronomy to our family. Hope we can come again...many thanks :)
Name : Fay from Maidstone
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Title : Star Gazing Course
Date : 17 Mar 2014
Time : 4:55pm
Comment
I have attended the last two stargazing lectures - which are an excellent informative way in for the complete novice astronomer and have been fascinating. I would be interested in being put on the list for any stargazing night viewings you may have coming up.
Name : Jon
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Title : Star Gazing Course (part 2)
Date : 16 Mar 2014
Time : 5:02pm
Comment
Thanks for a very interesting talk last night, thoroughly enjoyed it, made lots of notes!
Name : Rita
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Title : Space Weather
Date : 3 March 2014
Time : 1:00pm
Comment
Please see the Links of 2 very good web sites they give you information on the Sun and its activity as well as lots more. For info on the Latest Sun Spots and for Images of the Sun
Name : Steve Ward from Chelmsford and Margate
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Title : How Far can you see ?
Date : 1 Mar 2014
Time : 3:30pm
Comment
I saw a buoy bobbing 20 miles away!
Name : Alex (11) from Westgate-on-sea
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Title : Free Public meeting
Date : 1 Mar 2013
Time : 3:00pm
Comment
Thankyou for the information about Jupiter! Lovely friendly people to talk to !
Name : Eva (10) from Maidstone
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Title : Using the Telescopes at the Saturday meeting
Date : 1 Mar 2014
Time : 2:30pm
Comment
I saw something bobbing in the water today and I waved at some people about 3 miles away!
Name : Rhiannon (9 years old) from Berkshire
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Title : Star Gazing Course
Date : 1 Mar 2014
Time : 2:15pm
Comment
Loved the first part of the stargazing course and look forward to learning so much more about stars, planets and things to be seen in the sky at night.
Name : Janet from Herne Bay
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Title : Aurora Borealis
Date : 1 Mar 2014
Time : 2:00pm
Comment
I remember as a young child watching the Aurora from the South Downs in Sussex in the late 1940s.
Name : Bernie
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Title : The Aurora Borealis spotted in Thanet
Date : 28 Feb 2014
Time : 10:00pm
Comment For information on the Aurora Borealis spotted in Thanet, see our article in the Isle of Thanet Gazette click Here
Name : Danny D.
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Title : Re The Star Gazing Course
Date : 16 Feb 2014
Time : 10:24am
Comment
Hi, I attended the first part of the Star Gazing Course last night, very enjoyable and looking forward to more. Thanks . See you soon.
Name : Tony C
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Title : Not at todays afternoon meeting
Date : 15 Feb 2014
Time : 09:45am
Comment
Hi everybody. Sorry but I will not be attending this afternoon's session at the West Cafe. I've got a rotten cold & don't want to spread it around. Apologies to those I said I would help with Stellarium. Danny or George W will be able to help.
Name : George C
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Title : Reach for the stars!
Date : 9 Feb 2014
Time : 11:38
Comment
Great to be a part of this exciting adventure with you all! Glad I found the Group at the start of your journey to the stars!
Name : Gill P
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Title : Our Saturday afternoon experience
Date : 8 Feb 2014
Time : 1-4 pm
Comment
I am delighted with the increasing flow of people who take an interest in our group. I was asked by a couple who paid for their Star Gazing Course tickets, if we would consider giving a talk / presentation to a group of ladies at Herne Bay and what would we charge. I said we are always happy to give a talk and would prefer to ask for donations rather than charge a fee. I want to say a Big Thank You to everyone for all the support we continue to receive. It gives us encouragement to make a success of the Thanet Astronomy Group.
Name : George W
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Title : Saturday Free Public Meeting
Date : 8th Feb 2014
Time : 1-4 pm
Comment
Today was a strange day weather wise. We started off with a quick committee meeting in the cafe at 12:30 while all hell was let loose out side Wind, Rain, Hail. By 1pm the Sun was back out and shining brightly. We set up some of the telescopes and people began to arrive. Before long there were a good number of people. Gill was looking after people wanting information about joining, the contact list and Star Gazing course, as well as the children that wanted to have a look through the telescopes. George W set up his Sky-Watcher 130 telescope with a solar filter and was showing people sun spots, later in the day he moved onto the Moon. George C was helping people to get Stellarium installed on their laptops. By 3pm the weather was looking like it was going to hit us again, so we decided to put the telescopes back in the cars and continue the meeting in the cafe. We only just made it Hail Rain and strong Wind again a typical seaside squall. We sat in the warm in the cafe drinking tea, coffee and eating cake and chips. A good day was had by all despite the weather!
Name : Danny D.
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