BAS Observer December 2017

4 BAS OBSERVER Club activities by Peter Allison, BAS President Where did 2017 go? We are not far from completing another trip around our Sun. To me, it feels like we’ve whizzed around this orbit in record time. Where did 2017 go? But I guess it is all relative . . . or something like that. A great year It’s been a great year for BAS, as membership numbers have increased substantially to now exceed over 100 memberships, and 130+ actual members when family memberships are taken into account. So, thank you to all the new members of BAS; I hope you are learning something about astronomy and getting enjoyment from your interest. I’d also like to say an extra big ‘thank you’ to all the BAS members who volunteered so much of their time over the year to school and community astronomy events – from Mount Coot-tha public nights, to the huge World Science Festival weekend, and the dozens of sometimes challenging school nights conducted over the year. I hope you can continue to assist in 2018 too. BCC LED street lights campaign I’d also like to thank BAS members who have contributed to the BCC LED street lights campaign. Whether you assisted with the detailed research into street lighting and LED lighting technology, or whether you just sent an email to your local BCC councilor: thank you. The campaign must continue and move up in intensity in 2018. So, thanks for your efforts so far, but I’ll call on you again very soon. December OGM And thank you to BAS Vice-President Stephanie Williams for covering for me in December as I head overseas for a few weeks. Stephanie has a cracker of an OGM set for 1st December, focusing on the topic of Astrophotography for Beginners. Sorry I can’t be there, but I’ll try to return with a few Northern Hemisphere astro-images to share at our February 2018 meeting. . . . . So, thank you to everyone for making 2017 a great year. Roll on 2018! ■ Eighth planet discovered in Kepler-90 star system Looking very much like our own Solar System, this artist’s impression shows the eight-planet lineup of the Kepler-90 star system, with newly discovered exoplanet Kepler-90i captioned in red.