Members of Airdrie Astronomical Association (AAA) are celebrating the group’s 10th anniversary – and will be beginning their new year of talks and activities by celebrating the golden jubilee of the moon landings.
The group was formed in 2009 and took over the running of the town’s public observatory, located at Airdrie library on Wellwynd; succeeding the former Airdrie branch of Association in Scotland To Research into Astronautics which had looked after the facility and run meetings for the previous three decades.
Its special anniversary event was attended by five observatory curators from through the years – Robert Law, who filled the role in the 1980s and 90s and is now at Mills Observatory in Dundee; plus first AAA observatory curator Arthur Bannister, 2013-2016 postholder Gavin Bain and current co-curators Bob Webster and Hannah Robinson.
Club secretary Aileen Malone gave a presentation at the special event in New Wellwynd Parish Church, telling the story of observing in Airdrie going back as far as the 1890s.
Members and guests also looked back on AAA’s special achievements during the decade – including the 2010 visit to Airdrie of Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke, the 10th man to walk on the moon, who spoke to 750 local schoolchildren and became the club’s honorary president.
It was followed by visits from Apollo astronauts Colonel Al Warden and Captain Dick Gordon; while the newly-formed group was also kept busy with the major refurbishment of the observatory in 2009.
The work included installation of a landmark new dome and restoration of its historic 19th-century Cooke of York telescope, while the group also teamed up with students from Glasgow Metropolitan College who produced the space-themed mural for the walls of its stairway.
Aileen said: “It was a great evening celebrating all of our activities over the past 10 years and really heartwarming to see the past and current AAA curators assembled for what’s such a milestone.
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“It was a whistlestop tour of history, and it was interesting to see the baton being handed down through the decades, not only in care for the telescope but also providing amazing talks for the people of Airdrie.
“Airdrie space enthusiasts had presentations in the 50s and 60s by leading astronomers such as Dr TR Tannahill, Scottish branch president of the British Astronomical Association, and BBC aerospace correspondent Reg Turnhill, the man who first broke the story to the world of the explosion on Apollo 13.
“We still have presentations today from some incredible visitors – we’re very proud to offer such a wide and varied programme and it’s great to see so many people coming along each week.
“Our celebration was also an opportunity to thank all the volunteers and members who are very much appreciated for the work they do keeping our meetings going throughout the year.”
The group’s meetings resume next Friday, September 6, when former curator Robert Law will be guest speaker and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landings.
All sessions are free, with speakers this year including author David Woods on the 50th anniversary of Apollo 12 and a return visit by John Brown, the Astronomer Royal for Scotland.
The meetings take place at New Wellwynd Parish Church at 7.30pm and anyone with an interest in astronomy and spaceflight is welcome.
For more details, see www.airdrieobservatory.com or call 07505 004770.
