Text Box: The Chapel Lawn Astronomicals   The Chapel Lawn Astronomicals has now reached its fourteenth year.  It began as the Offa’s Dyke Astronomical Society, which met each month in the Knighton Observatory.  This was built and run by two wonderful people – Cheryl Power and Brian Williams, but for health reasons they had to leave and live in Spain.   The Offa’s Dyke Astronomical Society could no longer meet at the observatory and for a time used a room in the Offa’s Dyke Centre in Knighton.  Membership steadily declined until by 2003 only three members remained.  It was at this point that it was decided to move the meetings to Chapel Lawn Village Hall.  Not only was the hall a user-friendly place, but it also had a large car park and it was blessed with very dark skies – except for three streetlights!  If this move had not been made, the society would have been forced to close.   Today it is an informal group of friends and acquaintances with one great interest – the Stars.  A source of wonder rather than knowledge binds the group together.  They enjoy hands on experience at telescopes to view the heavens and its wonders.   Excellent speakers help to expand their interest and knowledge; some of the subjects have included: ‘The Birth and Death of Stars’, ‘Saturn – Lord of the Rings’, ‘Mars and the Belief in Canals’ and ‘The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence’.   The Astronomicals have a close friendship with the Wolverhampton Astronomical Society and we have been made very welcome at their meetings.   The Chapel Lawn Astronomicals meet on the last Thursday of every month in Chapel Lawn Village Hall at 7.30 pm.  Members number around twenty, but on most evenings ten would be a good turnout.  Between them, the members have at least five good astronomical telescopes and special days and nights are arranged for viewing; Mars, when this planet is near to the earth, a new comet or the moon and the sun, double stars and many objects in deep space.  For the transit of Venus on June 8th 2004, which began at 5.30 am and finished at 12.30 am, over 73 people came and saw this event (through our telescopes) and more than 70 breakfasts were cooked for anyone who felt like one.   At Midsummer the society holds a special supper for members and friends and a splendid dinner is arranged in Knighton each Christmas.   If you are interested in the stars or would like to look at the planets and the moon magnified 450 times, then please do come along or telephone 01547 530205 for help and details.   Current Events   At the moment, Mars is moving ever closer to earth; you will see it blazing blood red in the Eastern sky around 9.00 pm.  It will be closest to earth in December 18th when it will be 35,000,000 miles away.  During July and August of this year, Mars underwent huge dust storms, which obscured all surface markings, but now these storms have subsided.  We shall attempt to see Mars (given a clear night) during December and January.   Two other sights well worth seeing are two comets: Comet 17P/Holmes and comet 8P/Tuttle.  Both are more or less overhead around 11.00 pm.  Comet 17P/Holmes is exceptionally well placed for UK observers as it loops around the bright star Mirfak in Perseus.  Comet 8P/Tuttle lies close to the North Star at the beginning of December.  It passes close to earth every 13½ years, but has never been as close as this; in 2048 it will pass even closer.  Binoculars and a very dark night are the best way of finding these two visitors from space.  So do come and have a look.