Wycombe Astronomical Society

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The WAS 20 & 50 Projects

What are the WAS 20 & 50 projects?

The aim of the WAS 50 (and the shorter WAS 20) awards is to encourage members in making astronomical sightings of solar system and deep sky objects, preferably with their own or the Society's telescope and/or binoculars and also to encourage a system of keeping notes of sightings. Apart from ones own instrument it is quite acceptable to use any other telescope (such as the Society's telescope).

Members are asked to make and submit modest records of the required items and guide sheet is available with our listed chose sightings to indicate our requirements of your submissions for an award.

Non-members are free to use this resource to enhance their own viewing programme. Members can as a bonus, obtain a certificate for the time and effort involved. Members should submit their completed forms to John Fifield at a regular meeting

Hints and Tips

Here are some suggestions that you may find useful in making your records:

First, a loose leaf hole-punch file can be flexible for keeping your data together and for varying the filing method used while collating your records.

A simple way to record your telescopic image is to draw a telescopic circle using a 35mm film container. A mug will produce a larger circle for a detailed drawing. Avoid using a compass as this creates a hole and an "erronous star" in the middle of the circle!

Use a tape recorder so that you can record your observations and thoughts. It is easier than trying to write in the dark on a separate piece of paper to your drawing.

Try using the clock dial system to record your observations. For example, if using a tape recorder:

"Jupiter at bull's eye position, one moon seen halfway to 8 o'clock, a moon one diamter of Jupiter towards 2 o'clock, a further moon half way to 2 o'clock. These three in line with the upper belt seen on Jupiter's disc. A fourth moon is two-thirds the way to 3 o'clock".

This method can be used to record star patterns, the angle of Saturn's rings and double stars etc.

Your recordings can then be drawn indoors in comfort and in normal light. For precise drawings you can, of course, do your recordings at the telescope or binoculars. For a record of objects like the Pleiades or Hyades, a telescopic finder view or binoculars would be more suitable to use before doing your drawing.

These are only suggestions. You can use any preferred method to record your sightings.

For best results consider the following:

• Be Steady. Try not to touch the telescope while observing as that will cause vibrations that will spoil your view. Use a dew zapper if the night is damp. It is sometimes useful to use averted vision by looking to the edge of the eyepiece and therefore seeing the object from the side of your vision.
  
  
• Be Comfortable. Use a chair if possible, even at the telescope eyepiece.
  
  
• Be Patient. Be patient and still while finding and viewing an object.
  
  
• Avoid Light. Avoid any light pollution by turning your back against it and using any form of screening, i.e. trees and garden sheds.
  
  
• Understand your field of view. This will help you to know exactly where you are looking, particularly if you are trying to find an object by referencing a star map.
  
  
• Be Warm. Make sure you are suitably clothed and have suitable footwear on. The nights can change quickly in temperature and humidity.

How to record your observations

Your task is to demonstrate to an assessor that you have indeed observed the objects in the list. There are no hard and fast rules about what to record and how. However, you may find using the Observation Log sheet below a useful and consistent way of recording what you have seen.

WAS 20 & 50 downloads

All the items you need are available to download below:

WAS 20 record sheet (MS Word format)

WAS 50 record sheet (MS Word format).

WAS finder charts and field of view sheets (Zipped JPGs 1.1Mb).

WAS Observation Log Sheet