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Should you wish to contact the
society or require general information please contact ASTRA
using the following Email address: Should you encounter any problems
with this Web
Page please
email: 100th anniversary year of
Airdrie
Public Observatory. A grant
of £1000 from the outgoing Monklands District Council
was negotiated, to complete the replacement 3" telescope and
maintain and upgrade the 6". Over the next 18 months the 6"
telescope was stripped of paint, polished and restored to
its original brass finish by John
Braithwaite and
Danny
Kane, and John, Danny and
Oscar restored the clockwork drive. An electric motor was
procured for a replacement drive but not installed at this
time. Gordon
Ross began wind-tunnel tests
of new 'Shapeshifter' family of Waveriders
at Glasgow School of Art; covered by BBC TV 'Reporting
Scotland' during Edinburgh International Science Festival
(see below). Jan.27. Greg
Beekman, 'Observing on
Hawaii'. Mar.17. Visit to planetarium
at Jewel and Esk College, Musselburgh, by courtesy of Dave
Gavine. Mar.31-Apr.17. 'Urban
Spacemen' art exhibition at Edinburgh International Science
Festival Club, Edinburgh University College Club, organised
by Matt
Ewart and Duncan
Lunan, featuring all previous
artists and introducing Andy
Paterson. Apr.6-12. Talks by
Duncan
Lunan and Gordon
Ross on SETI,
Lightsails and Waverider
at Edinburgh International Science Festival, announcing new
Shapeshifter Waverider
concept. Official launch of Lightsail Consortium Project,
intended to fly a small fleet of lightsails at the turn of
the Millennium. Apr.12. Annual Dinner at
College Club. Apr.21. Dr. John Major,
University of Durham, 'A MARTINI in the GHRIL Room',
Airdrie. May 15, Airdrie.
Duncan
Lunan launches discussion
project on the mediaeval green children mystery. June 3. Volunteers' Week
certificates awarded to ASTRA members by the Lord Provost of
Glasgow, Glasgow City Chambers. June 10. Airdrie
Public Observatory Open Day
with moonrock from PPARC and photo exhibit by Royal
Observatory, Edinburgh. June 24. AGM at GCVS.
Roddy
Chisholm co-opted to Council
as Treasurer. June 30. 'The Space Art of
Andy
Paterson', first of three
exhibitions at Weavers' Cottages Museum, Airdrie, marking
the Airdrie
Public Observatory centenary;
next shown at Coats Observatory, Paisley, then Dick
Institute, Kilmarnock, taking in National Astronomy Week,
1996. This and the next two Airdrie exhibition openings were
sponsored by West End Bar. Summer. Mach 6
Waverider,
looking remarkably like the Royal Aircraft Establishment's
design (see 1964) with Gordon's tipfins (see 1984), tested
at NASA Langley Research Centre. Aug.5-Sept.2. 'Reaching for
the Stars' Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, astrophotography
exhibition at Weavers' Cottages Museum. Aug.24-28. Extensive ASTRA
participation in World Science Fiction Convention programme,
Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow; e.g.
'Why Was Scotty Scottish?' panel with Archie
Roy, Peter
Jamieson, Willie
Fleming and Julian Smith of
Edinburgh International Science Festival; Waverider
presentation; Green Children talk, etc.. Our space photo
exhibition had been completely modernised and remounted by
Gordon
Ross, but the Convention
failed to provide the facilities to show it. Sept.8-Oct.4. 'Man and the
Planets': new ASTRA space photographs exhibition at the
Weavers' Cottages Museum. Nov.4-6. ASTRA photo
exhibition at London Astronomy Show; Duncan
Lunan lectures on
Waverider
there and at Keele University Astronomy Society, arranged by
Greg
Beekman. Nov.18. Meteor watch at
Drumpellier
Country Park, Coatbridge,
first of a series of astronomy and rocketry events organised
there by Nick Portwin of the Airdrie branch. Dec.5. Gordon
Ross lectures on
Waverider
to Royal Aeronautical Society (who gave Prof.
Nonweiler their Gold Medal
for it in the 1960's), Park Circus, Glasgow. Dec.8. Anniversary Dinner at
Airdrie Arts Centre. 1996
1994
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Website Author: Nick Portwin (portwin@easynet.co.uk)
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Date Last Modified: 31 07 1999