| Attendees: | KP, DH, SW, DT, PH, IP |
| Apologies: | NT |
| Minutes: | IP |
Items
Dual Microphone (KP)
Nothing further to report.
KP identified why audio output was not changing from laptop to speaker at previous Members’ evening – there is a setting within Teams that over-rides the laptop audio setting.
Lunt Solar Telescope (KP)
KP’s insurer can provide a quote. KP’s email of 11th Feb 2026 provided a valuation for our telescope stock. The committee discussed options and decided that only some of the higher-valued items would be worth insuring, and that the cost of replacing the Lunt may be higher (may need new for old as there are few second-hand examples available). Action Kevin to obtain specimen quotes for consideration.
Action KP: Obtain two specimen quotes for consideration (one for Lunt only, the second for the top not new for old).
Coronado SolarMax may not be repairable; the company is no longer in business, the origin of the fault is unknown (diagonal or body), and the filter degrades over time. (Optronic – parent company of Orion and Meade has auctioned all its assets, including Coronado – see skyandtelescope and stargazerslounge). Currently, with it you can observe sunspots and the solar disk, but no see details or prominences (suitable for outreach). DT will contact SAGAS, Guildford and Cody AS to ask if anyone could loan a diagonal for fault diagnosis.
Action DT: Contact other SAGAS/other AS for loan of SolarMax diagonal.
Alexander Observatory (DT)
Offered 99-year leasehold (and possibly freehold), but would be responsible for drainage, road and maintaining a listed heritage building, including rectifying any maintenance not completed satisfactorily over the last 20 years. As we are not a legal entity, we would not be able to take this on. We are happy to continue with the lease on the current terms, with FAS being caretaker. Landlord (MoD – TBC) should approach other organisations, such as English Heritage.
Need more notified key-holders.
Audit – H&S identified wooden steps but decided that they would not replace them as they were heritage.
Action DT: Contact Andrew Colver at Rushmoor Borough Council to see if they will address this.
No update on this, and Andrew is no longer available.
The dome at the Aldershot Observatory sticks.no longer rotates all the way around and trees are overgrowing. Danny advised that both he and Andrew had invited Grainger to come and see the Observatory, but with no success to date. This matter seems to have gone quiet.
Action DT: Contact Grainger to consider repairs to the Dome (we cannot make any ourselves) and to cut-back trees. Note Grainger are not local and may not agree to a meeting.
Hawley Summer Fete (KP)
Kevin declared an interest in running one or more of these events again next year and asked for some budget to be reserved for attendance fees. Involvement and the purchase of a gazebo. Event takes place on Saturday 11th July. Stalls are £30 (£20 for registered charities).
Telescope Library (KP/DT)
We have too many scopes, and several do not have mounts and so are not borrowed.
Danny reported that he had recently examined the Coronado. It was in a similar condition to the Lunt (as was) – we can see sunspots but not surface detail. It would be interesting to swap out the diagonal with a working one, but a request to members didn’t furnish one.
It was considered not worth spending as much on repairing this second solar scope, but it is still a useful solar scope for seeing sunspots. We might make use of this at a public fete next year.
Kevin confirmed that we have about 25-30 scopes in our library, but they are seldom used by any members. The committee agreed that we should attempt to downsize our collection. Telescopes deemed to be of little value to the society should be either offered to members, sold, or dumped.
Action All: Review the telescopes in their possession – pass any disposal recommendations to Kevin, who will review in the context of our overall collection.
Action KP: Consider how we might raise the visibility and utilisation of our telescope library.
Astronomy Now Article
For new joiners, no-one mentioned the Astronomy Now article in the “where did you hear of us?” field. Most new joiners found out about us by web-searches.
Membership Renewals (DH)
KP to ask William Watts how he is and whether he is going to renew.
Other non-renewals are more recent joiners and are beginners. They have been purged from Facebook.
Recurring Items
Finance (PH)
Finances are on track – see PH’s detailed accounts e-mails on 15 Jan 2026.
Awaiting billing for rental fee.
Action PH: Contact Andrew Collins for transactions.
Observing (SW)
Steve is still in handover phase with NT. Still need to know how to operate at Frensham, such as locking up, if we do not manage an observation evening. May arrange a visit with NT (IP interested in joining that as an alternate POC). Possibly move a session by a day if the forecast is better.
Monthly observing challenges (e.g. planets, DSO, comet) which could be an event completed outside of FAS observing event. Add images and drawings to the newsletter.
Meetings are as much a social event as for observation. PH offered to bring hot chocolate.
Potentially have ad-hoc sessions after meetings at ACC.
Outreach (AC)
Apologies on the website that we are unable to support outreach, with pointers to other societies in the region.
Alice Holt event on 17 Feb – a few volunteers (DT, IP, NT and others).
AOB (KP)
Speaker at next event has cancelled. Alternatives being investigated.
New members – need to speak to them and find out what they wish to do. Maybe arrange a telescope surgery. Cody AS have a two-cycle of basics talks for newcomers and an advice surgery on the first Thursday of each month. KP and IP to bring scopes (and binoculars) to next meeting to go through setups for newcomers.
Action PH: Contact new joiners to ask what they want to get out of the club.