The Club was formed by a small group of enthusiasts more than 20 years ago.
Neil Mahrer was the founder and arranged the very first meeting. This meeting, and others which followed, were at the Arts Centre. When the club outgrew the AC, it moved to Hautlieu - one of the members (Martin Porter) was a Physics teacher there, and they were able to use the physics lab for their meetings, which they did for many years.
In 2004 a purpose built centre named the Sir Patrick Moore Astronomy Centre was opened for those interested in astronomy by Constable Max De La Haye.
If you know anything more about the history of the club, please contact Tony at [email protected]
Neil Mahrer was the founder and arranged the very first meeting. This meeting, and others which followed, were at the Arts Centre. When the club outgrew the AC, it moved to Hautlieu - one of the members (Martin Porter) was a Physics teacher there, and they were able to use the physics lab for their meetings, which they did for many years.
In 2004 a purpose built centre named the Sir Patrick Moore Astronomy Centre was opened for those interested in astronomy by Constable Max De La Haye.
If you know anything more about the history of the club, please contact Tony at [email protected]
News Items from the Club's History
On 14th January 2002, the JEP reported that the Astronomy Club was getting a permanent home:
Stargazers will soon have a new platform from which to scan the heavens after the Jersey Astronomy Club was given permission to start building a new centre at Les Creux. The £20,000 centre will provide a venue for the club to meet and will give members an educational facility to open up the heavens to schools and other groups. Club spokesman Gavin Booth said that he hoped the Astronomer Royal, Sir Patrick Moore, who has recently become patron of the club, would be available to open the centre.
Mr Booth said that the work on the building was expected to start within the next month and be completed by the end of the year on the site close to the bowls club.
‘We have about 50 members,’ Mr Booth said, ‘of whom 30 turn up to each meeting. At the moment we meet at Hautlieu and hold observation at the Frances Le Sueur Centre in St Ouen.’
He stressed that the new building, which will include a hardstanding area outside with a metal column on which to mount the club telescope, would become an educational centre.
Mr Booth said the location to the West of the Island was preferable because there was little reflective glow from artificial lights. ‘The east coast is a bit of a wash-out,’ he explained ‘because St Helier does put a lot of reflected light up. The west coast is away from town so it isn t so bad.’
The club telescope, Mr Booth said, was powerful enough to get a good view of Saturn or our neighbouring galaxy Andromeda, the images of which fill the eyepiece.
11 February 2004
The Jersey Astronomy Club’s premises at Les Creux were named the Sir Patrick Moore Astronomy Club at a ceremony on Monday night. More than 100 guests attended the event, at which Education president Senator Mike Vibert officiated.
The clubhouse has been named after the club’s patron, who could not travel to the Island for the event, but instead screened a message that had been filmed at his Chelsea home several days before.
The Chairman of the club, Marcel Le Masson, said that although the club had been in existence for 12 years, the clubhouse had been in operation for just over a year; and it had taken many months to work up to its full potential. In that time, just over 300 guests, adult groups and uniformed small groups with their leaders had attended lectures or open days.
This was part of the educational programme designed to teach people about the science of the night sky. Solar observing was also undertaken.
The second phase of the club’s operation is now in progress with the development of a smaller unit outside the main building. The club has already been given permission for a wooden roll-back roof observatory, but work has been suspended until modified plans are approved.
Mr Le Masson said: ‘The observing site is the most southerly in the British Isles, and we are pleased that the Education Committee has agreed that this was a worthy cause.’
The club is now a member of the UK Federation of Astronomical Societies and talks are to begin on ‘twinning’ with The Chichester Society, which runs the South Downs Planetarium.
The stars were visible on Monday night to be viewed through the club’s telescope, as were the planets of Venus and Saturn.
4 June 2004
St Brelade Planning Application
Amended plans: Change of description. Applicant: D Read (SP/2004/0133). The Astronomy Cabin, Les Creux Millenium Country Park, Route Orange – Construct telescope dome. Applicant: Jersey Astronomy Club. Constraints: Countryside zone (SP/2004/1116).
8 June 2004
It last happened in 1882, but this morning its return was wowing excited schoolchildren and even more excited astronomers.
With the early morning sky almost perfectly clear, the Island’s stargazers were looking heavenwards for the converging of two celestial bodies.
As predicted, Venus made its long awaited ‘transit’ across the sun. The second planet from the sun, which is about the earth, appeared as a clear black circle against the sun’s orange mass.
The spectacle started at around 5 am, but, by 9.30 am, a haze had started to obscure Venus as it tracked across ‘our local star’.
La Moye Year3 pupil Wilson Azevedo (8) said: ‘It was really exciting. I saw this black spot and it was moving across the sun. It was a bit foggy but I watched it for about half a minute.’
President of the Jersey Astronomy Club Marcel Le Masson said: ‘It’s astonishing. Of course I have never seen it before because I wasn t born when it was last visible. We are very lucky to be able to see it.’
Mr Le Masson added that club had set up eight telescopes and were projecting the image onto a screen at the Sir Patrick Moore Astronomy Centre, in Les Creux Park.
Members of the public were welcomed to come and share the spectacle and eight classes of youngsters from La Moye School were expected this morning.
Venus was due to finish its transit at around 11.30 am today.
Stargazers will soon have a new platform from which to scan the heavens after the Jersey Astronomy Club was given permission to start building a new centre at Les Creux. The £20,000 centre will provide a venue for the club to meet and will give members an educational facility to open up the heavens to schools and other groups. Club spokesman Gavin Booth said that he hoped the Astronomer Royal, Sir Patrick Moore, who has recently become patron of the club, would be available to open the centre.
Mr Booth said that the work on the building was expected to start within the next month and be completed by the end of the year on the site close to the bowls club.
‘We have about 50 members,’ Mr Booth said, ‘of whom 30 turn up to each meeting. At the moment we meet at Hautlieu and hold observation at the Frances Le Sueur Centre in St Ouen.’
He stressed that the new building, which will include a hardstanding area outside with a metal column on which to mount the club telescope, would become an educational centre.
Mr Booth said the location to the West of the Island was preferable because there was little reflective glow from artificial lights. ‘The east coast is a bit of a wash-out,’ he explained ‘because St Helier does put a lot of reflected light up. The west coast is away from town so it isn t so bad.’
The club telescope, Mr Booth said, was powerful enough to get a good view of Saturn or our neighbouring galaxy Andromeda, the images of which fill the eyepiece.
11 February 2004
The Jersey Astronomy Club’s premises at Les Creux were named the Sir Patrick Moore Astronomy Club at a ceremony on Monday night. More than 100 guests attended the event, at which Education president Senator Mike Vibert officiated.
The clubhouse has been named after the club’s patron, who could not travel to the Island for the event, but instead screened a message that had been filmed at his Chelsea home several days before.
The Chairman of the club, Marcel Le Masson, said that although the club had been in existence for 12 years, the clubhouse had been in operation for just over a year; and it had taken many months to work up to its full potential. In that time, just over 300 guests, adult groups and uniformed small groups with their leaders had attended lectures or open days.
This was part of the educational programme designed to teach people about the science of the night sky. Solar observing was also undertaken.
The second phase of the club’s operation is now in progress with the development of a smaller unit outside the main building. The club has already been given permission for a wooden roll-back roof observatory, but work has been suspended until modified plans are approved.
Mr Le Masson said: ‘The observing site is the most southerly in the British Isles, and we are pleased that the Education Committee has agreed that this was a worthy cause.’
The club is now a member of the UK Federation of Astronomical Societies and talks are to begin on ‘twinning’ with The Chichester Society, which runs the South Downs Planetarium.
The stars were visible on Monday night to be viewed through the club’s telescope, as were the planets of Venus and Saturn.
4 June 2004
St Brelade Planning Application
Amended plans: Change of description. Applicant: D Read (SP/2004/0133). The Astronomy Cabin, Les Creux Millenium Country Park, Route Orange – Construct telescope dome. Applicant: Jersey Astronomy Club. Constraints: Countryside zone (SP/2004/1116).
8 June 2004
It last happened in 1882, but this morning its return was wowing excited schoolchildren and even more excited astronomers.
With the early morning sky almost perfectly clear, the Island’s stargazers were looking heavenwards for the converging of two celestial bodies.
As predicted, Venus made its long awaited ‘transit’ across the sun. The second planet from the sun, which is about the earth, appeared as a clear black circle against the sun’s orange mass.
The spectacle started at around 5 am, but, by 9.30 am, a haze had started to obscure Venus as it tracked across ‘our local star’.
La Moye Year3 pupil Wilson Azevedo (8) said: ‘It was really exciting. I saw this black spot and it was moving across the sun. It was a bit foggy but I watched it for about half a minute.’
President of the Jersey Astronomy Club Marcel Le Masson said: ‘It’s astonishing. Of course I have never seen it before because I wasn t born when it was last visible. We are very lucky to be able to see it.’
Mr Le Masson added that club had set up eight telescopes and were projecting the image onto a screen at the Sir Patrick Moore Astronomy Centre, in Les Creux Park.
Members of the public were welcomed to come and share the spectacle and eight classes of youngsters from La Moye School were expected this morning.
Venus was due to finish its transit at around 11.30 am today.