BAP
2005 HOSTED BY THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
IN MANCHERSTER
The annual
meeting of The
British Association of Planetaria (BAP)
was held this year at the Museum
of Science and Industry in Manchester (MSIM).
There were 54 delegates in attendance from
the planetarium community, encompassing small
mobile dome operators and large planetarium
theatres. BAP gives planetarians an opportunity
to swap ideas see what other organisations
have been up to througout the year.
(LEFT)
DR TOM MASON, DR TIM O'BRIEN AND BAP CONFERENCE
ORGANISER JULIA RILEY PICTURED AT JODREL
BANK OBSERVATORY.
Click
on image for a larger view.
Julia Riley (MSIM) organised
a wonderful conference packed with presentations,
educational information and demonstrations
from vendors. She also treated delegates to
a trip to Jodrell
Bank Observatory.The huge Jodrell Bank
radio telescope dish, built under the supervision
of Sir Bernard Lovell in the years immediately
following WW2, is an impressive sight. We
were ably led around the back office areas,
including the control room by Dr Tim O'Brien,
one of the university astronomers who works
at the site. He made the important point that
although the telescope is rapidly approaching
its 50th birthday, upgrades to the fabric
of the dish mean that it is currently operating
at its greatest ever efficiency.
(LEFT)
THE 76 METRE LOVELL RADIO TELESCOPE AT JODRELL
BANK OBSERVATORY
Click
on image for a larger view.
The Museum Of Science and Industry
in Manchester also houses a planetarium. Although
small this planetarium houses a Spitz star
projector which produced an impressive night
sky. Tom and Julie were treated to star show
packed full of information and expertly delivered
by Museum staff.
(LEFT)
JULIE THOMPSON VISITING THE PLANETARIUM
AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY IN
MANCHESTER
Click
on image for a larger view.
Congratulations to Armagh Planetarium's
Director Dr Tom Mason who was elected to the
position of BAP President. Tom takes over
from Teresa Grafton (London
Planetarium) who has given BAP many years
of outstanding service. We are also delighted
to report that Armagh Planetarium has been
chosen for the next BAP conference in May
2006.
Armagh would like to thank the
Museum of Science and Industry and the BAP
council for organising such a great event.
We hope we will do as well when it is held
in Armagh next year.
