Wolverhampton Astronomical Society

Herschel And All That Jazz

Launch time for this special tour is 08.00 hours on Sunday, 12 March 2006, when the coach will depart from The Land Oak Pub, Kidderminster (Chester Road side), having collected the first group of the tour party. Then on to Faulkland Street Car Park, Wolverhampton, where the last of the tour group will be collected, departing at 0830 hours. So will everyone be sure to be at their pick-up point in plenty of time before lift-off.

Onward to Bath and the William Herschel Museum, arriving 11.30. Here we split into two groups for Patrick Moore's award winning film, "The Star Vault", and a tour of the House and Museum. As most of us will be aware, William Herschel, aided by his sister Caroline, designed and built his own telescope through which he discovered Uranus in 1781. His observations doubled the size of the known solar system and he was rewarded for his work by King George III and received the Copley Medal.

At 13.30 those of us who wish may take a short journey to the old railway station which is now the where we will have a carvery lunch consisting of two courses: roast beef, roast pork, selection of freshly prepared vegetables and an old fashioned English pudding, eg bread and butter pudding, apple crumble, etc. We have booked a Jazz Duo for the occasion and the premises are, of course, fully licenced. Not a bad way to warm up on what may be a chilly day. Anyone not wishing to take lunch here may choose from the many cafes and pubs situated within a few minutes walk of the Museum. However. everyone must gather at the for 15.15 hours in order to board the coach to the University of Bath.

We move on to the University of Bath and at 15.30 hours take our seats for a Lecture by Dr Gary Mathlin of the Department of Physics, University of Bath. Gary is going to discuss one of his specialist subjects, "Extra Solar Planets", using visual aids to add depth and colour.

Departure is at 17.00 hours with a home landing at 20.00 hours after what, 1 am sure you will agree, has been an exciting and memorable day of Astronomy mixed with live Jazz.

Cost of the visit to Bath with the Herschel Museum and Dr Mathlin's Lecture will be £20 per person. Lunch is £12 per person which includes the Jazz Duo.

Those wishing to join in this special tour should send cheques to me, Christina Garfield, 86 Bellencroft Gardens, Wolverhampton WV3 8DU - telephone 01902 824721. Please make cheques payable to Wolverhampton Astronomical Society.