Welcome to the new issue of DSO. Unfortunately, as some people noticed the editorial in the last issue was not the one it should have been. Somewhere in the production process it got lost. The correct editorial, with the out of date sections deleted, is reproduced below. It does mean I have had to write less this time ☺.
You will have noted that we produced another historical CD with a copy of the first edition of Webb's book along with drawings of Lassell and Marth. The third work in this series the scanning of John Herschel's Cape Observations is proceeding and hopefully will be ready for AstroFest next year if we go.
For those interested in new discoveries the deepsky hunters group reports numerous new open clusters as well as some new diffuse and planetary nebulae from their surveys of the DSS. The group can be joined via yahoo groups in the usual way.
Society business
We had a very successful AGM again in Cambridge, although numbers again were poor. My thanks to Bob Argyle for arranging the venue and to Kirsty Argyle for helping with the lunches and teas.
At the AGM Alan Dowdell stepped down as meetings organiser and Richard Flux has kindly volunteered to stand in. Also at the AGM the Sales and Promotion position was passed to Don Miles. So again our thanks to Richard Flux for his work in that post.
Steve Rayner was confirmed in post as Treasurer after Mike Swan stood down last year and is busy trying to sort out the accounts, Two other motions came up which are worthy of debate.
The first was the timing of the AGM. We have to have meeting overload in the UK and it was felt that maybe it was worth moving the AGM to an October slot to get away from the pressure of other meetings in the UK calendar. This will of course mean that we move into the main star party season in the UK and possibly weather related transport issues.
The second and more contentious issue was the mane of the society. In this day and age it was felt that Webb's name no longer really indicated what we did and there was a proposal to change the name of the society to the Webb Deep Sky Observers Society which will perhaps give an indication as what we are about. What are members thoughts on this? If there is a consensus and we can get it past the Charities Commission then we can look at that for next year.
On a personal note we have had another poor season for the autumn star parties. My 20-inch got flooded at Kielder Forest and almost blown away at the Equinox Star Party. However with the few clear moments at Equinox came some of my finest views of Jones 1, K1-2, M31 and M101. It just was a shame that the weather was not as good for longer. We are in reasonably good shape for material, despite publishing two articles on the Caldwell catalogue. This came about as I was accused by some members of censorship. I would rather not publish any more.
Society news
We are planning next years AGM on the 8th October somewhere in the Oxford area, possibly if we can back at RAL.
For members interest, the second volume of the Visual Double Star Alas, covering more southerly constellations, is being prepared and may be ready for AstroFest.
With the unfortunate demise of the NDSOS in the US we have put forward an offer to all those members who are not currently members of the Webb to join us and provide an even stronger Society and magazine. They should be receiving a letter and a free copy of the DSO to show what we are about.
Footnote: If you intend sending any material for the magazine by post, please ensure you use the new address given. 15 Spinage Close, Faringdon, Oxfordshire SN7 7BW.
Cover Image: NGC 6334 Adrian Catterall. AP400GOTO, Takahashi Sky90 @ f/4.5 ST10XME and CS 4.5nm Hα filter 8 x 15 mins 11th August 2004 Port Alfred, South Afica.
Editor: Owen Brazell
