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By Florence and Bea (3i Students)
Last week 3i, an extracurricular society, open to all students and founded to encourage intelligence, initiative and individuality, took a trip to the Clanfield Observatory. Home of the Hampshire Astronomical Group and situated on the edge of the South Downs National Park, it's reputed to be one of the best equipped amateur observatories in the UK.
The Clanfield trip was just one of many 3i events this year (others include outings to the Winchester Science Centre and a history presentation on the Gunpowder Plot) and certainly lived up to the high standards we held after some fascinating trips.
We arrived to howling winds and low visibility in the pitch-black darkness, however soon found or way over to the clubhouse, where we were greeted by Lindy, Steve, (another) Steve and Pete. We visited three of the five domes on the site, which respectively housed two refractor telescopes (7” and 5”) and a reflector telescope (24”). Students were enthralled learning about the ins and outs of these astronomical devices used to both map the skies and capture images to further study celestial objects. The observatory also uses these telescopes to monitor and track asteroids in the Kuiper belt and upload their findings to an international database which keeps track of those that are potentially in dangerous proximity to Earth.
We were split into three groups to observe the domes in more depth where we were then taught by the volunteers, who are all clearly experts in their field!
They demonstrated the celestial navigation systems they used on their computers and how they can remotely control the telescopes with their advanced set-up. At the 24” reflector telescope we learned about the advantages and limitations of using this type of telescope and how reflector telescopes are now the predominantly used models in their field, similar to the Hubble telescope currently orbiting the Earth (though much smaller!). The 7” telescope was bequeathed to the organization by a benefactor in the 1970s and we were very fortunate to be able to experience this model in action as there is currently a 20-year waiting list for those looking to purchase them new. The 5” telescope was in fact two held in the same dome, both of them from the Victorian era and each holding an interesting history (one having been discovered in an attic!). Although cloudy skies inhibited our viewing opportunities, we were still incredibly fortunate to be given the honour of touring these complex and remarkable pieces of technology.
After the tour of the telescopes, we made our way back to the clubhouse for a presentation by Lindy on our solar system and beyond.
We discussed everything from magnetospheres and the auroras (Northern lights) to potential life on Ganymede (one of Jupiter’s many moons). We then headed back through the blustering wind to the coach and stopped for some much-needed McDonalds fuel (thanks Greg!) on the way back to school. This was a memorable and informative trip that was enjoyed by both staff and students, and we wish to thank Greg Clarke and Allen Shone as well as all the volunteers for making it such a unique experience!
Find out more about Science at Bedales HERE
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