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instrument builders at the other – with binoculared star hoppers, meteor watchers, sketchers and solar
Founder member, Simon Bennett of London’s astronomy showroom The Widescreen Centre, made the
observers in the middle. Each pursuit along this spectrum will have its purists and each will have its relaxed
crucial contribution (besides starting the group) of bringing telescopes to Regent’s Park – a venue made
enjoyer of the activity. This isn’t professional astronomy. There isn’t a right or wrong; just the way t hat eeks
possible by the other founding member, Royal Parks policeman, Carl Drake. A small range of telescopes
the most enjoyment out for your own personal experience.
means that people don’t spend too much time waiting for a view and they can also compare telescope
types if they’re wishing to invest in one.
So when I joined the committee of the newly formed Baker Street Irregular Astronomers in the summer
of 2010, I had no qualms about running an astronomical society situated under the light polluted dome of
London - nor in August, when many astronomical societies make a sensible choice to take a summer break,
awaiting darker skies in autumn and winter.
But perhaps the most valuable lesson I could offer is to make it accessible. I don’t just mean physically
accessible to get to, but welcoming, an event that people won’t feel too intimidated to try out if they
haven’t done so already.
The Baker Street Irregulars grew from 20 people in 2010 to one and a half thousand ‘members’ in 2014,
with the US Astronomy magazine editor, David Eicher, UK Astronomy Now editor, Steve Young and Tele
Vue Optics owners, David & Sandy Nagler, among our guests at our free monthly events. We don’t do
formal talks, have schedules or entrance times (not that there is necessarily anything wrong with that)
but we have a turn up when you want and leave when you’ve had enough attitude that we feel comfortable with, and we regularly team up with our friends from the British Astronomical Association to
give away telescopes in raffles.
People make a society and its people also define its character. A friendly and relaxed atmosphere will
attract friendly and relaxed people and help dispel the perceived myth of the socially inept, middle-aged
white guy, ‘amateur astronomer’. This is an exciting hobby (or career, if you’re lucky) where you get to
watch galaxies merging, the sun erupting and stars exploding a long time ago in a galaxy far far away.
Whether you’re taking your scope to a town square to give passers by a view of the moon or starting
up an astronomical society in a local park, creating a friendly and welcoming atmosphere will reap so
Astro Nerds June 2014
Astro Nerds June 2014