Stardate: 20260805

Newsletter - August 2026

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A Night to Remember

(with apologies to any Titanic fans)

⭐ August 12 — An Unforgettable Night of Eclipse and Meteors

We’re preparing for an unforgettable evening on 12 August, when the skies will treat us to a deep partial solar eclipse followed by one of the year’s most prolific meteor showers. It’s a rare chance to enjoy two remarkable celestial events in a single night, right here in Bramfield.

🌞 The August 12th Eclipse — A Summer Sky Spectacle Over Bramfield

On 12 August 2026, the skies over Hertford and Bramfield will host a rare celestial performance: a deep partial solar eclipse, with the Moon sliding across the Sun and covering an extraordinary 92% of its disc. Although the path of totality misses the UK, we still get the drama — the light dimming, the temperature dipping, and the Sun turning into a slender, glowing crescent hanging low in the west–north‑west. It’s a breathtaking sight, and our Bramfield Village Hall field offers exactly what the moment demands: a wide, clear horizon and an open view straight into the heart of the action.

We’ll begin gathering from 17:30, building the excitement as the Sun sinks toward eclipse time. The show starts at 18:15, reaches its eerie, atmospheric peak around 19:10–19:15, and concludes at 20:05, just as the sky begins to slide into twilight.

This is a public event, so bring friends, neighbours, and anyone who loves a bit of cosmic theatre. Thanks to support from Go Stargazing, we’ll be supplying free eclipse glasses, ensuring everyone can watch safely. And remember — never look at the Sun without proper protection, even during an eclipse.

📍 Location: Bramfield Village Hall field what3words: chefs.crazy.analogy Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Q4x61e8r2EDMq5u97

📍 Safety Viewing Glasses Available free of charge (while stocks last). Please read the instructions on the glasses before wearing them — and certainly before looking at the Sun.

📍 Live Viewing of the Total Eclipse We will see a partial eclipse from Bramfield, but you can watch the total eclipse live via these streams:

📍 Refreshments A coffee van will be on site offering hot and cold drinks and a few edible temptations. Please take your litter home.

📍 Parking Parking is very limited, so please find a safe place nearby and walk down to the field. Be mindful of village residents. There’s no rush — the eclipse lasts from 18:15 to 20:05, giving a generous viewing window.

📍 Our Eclipse Chasers To those travelling overseas to witness totality, we wish you a safe and successful journey and look forward to hearing your stories when you return — bon voyage!

🌙 ➜ 🌠✨ The Perseids

As the Sun slips below the horizon after the eclipse, the sky won’t be winding down — it’ll be gearing up for one of nature’s most electrifying shows. The Perseids will begin to spark into life above Bramfield, sending bright, fast, needle‑thin streaks across the darkening heavens as Earth ploughs through the dusty wake of Comet Swift–Tuttle.

With twilight fading and the western sky still glowing from the eclipse, the first meteors will feel like a reward for staying out late — and as the night deepens, the shower builds into a dazzling cascade of fire‑flecks, each one a tiny grain burning brilliantly as it meets our atmosphere. It’s the perfect cosmic double‑feature: an eclipse to start the evening, and the year’s most beloved meteor shower to finish it.

We will be maintaining a presence at the site until 23:00, so bring a comfortable chair and see if you’re lucky enough to catch a meteor (sometimes called shooting stars) — and don’t forget to make a wish if you do.

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We've got our Mojo working

🌟 All systems up and running

We’re pleased to say that everything is now in order and that you can sign up and renew at your convenience.

⭐ What This Means for You as a Member

✔ Quick and effortless renewals

MemberMojo gives you a secure online portal where you can renew your membership in moments — no more paper forms, no more waiting for manual updates.

✔ Update your details instantly

Changed email? New address? You can update your own information at any time, ensuring our records are always accurate.

✔ Your own member dashboard

You’ll be able to:

Check your membership status
See your renewal date
Manage your contact preferences
Access club information in one place
Print‑Your‑Own Membership Cards
Lost your card? Misplaced it before an observing night? No problem. MemberMojo lets you download and print your own membership card at any time — quick, convenient, and always available when you need it.

✔ More ways to pay — with bank transfers still available

We’ve introduces Stripe so you can pay by:

Debit card
Credit card

But don’t worry — traditional bank transfers will still be fully supported for anyone who prefers them.

✔ Better communication

MemberMojo helps us keep our mailing lists up to date automatically, so you’ll receive:

Meeting reminders
Observing alerts
Event announcements
Club news

…without missing a beat.

⭐ What This Means for the Committee

✔ Less admin, more astronomy

MemberMojo automates renewals, reminders, and record‑keeping, freeing the committee to focus on running events, improving outreach, and supporting members.

✔ Accurate, secure, GDPR‑compliant data

All member information is stored safely and consistently — no more spreadsheets, duplicated entries, or lost details.

✔ Instant insights

The team can quickly see:

Membership numbers
Renewal patterns
Payment history
Attendance trends

This helps us plan better events and manage club resources more effectively.

✔ Smarter communication tools

Mailing lists update automatically as members join or renew, ensuring messages always reach the right people.

⭐ Why This Upgrade Matters

As the club continues to grow, MemberMojo gives us a professional, reliable system that supports our future. It makes joining easier, improves communication, reduces admin, and strengthens the club’s foundations — all while keeping things simple and accessible for every member.

🌠 Countdown completed!

Full instructions on how to log in, renew, and manage your details can be found in Tomy's guide to using MemberMojo below. It’s intuitive, secure, and designed to make your membership experience smoother than ever.

A better system means a stronger club — and a stronger club means more observing nights, more talks, more outreach, and more of the astronomy we all love.

Tony's guide to using MemberMojo

⭐ Digital Membership Cards

You can download your Digital Membership Card straight into your phone’s wallet from the MemberMojo site — it’s quick, easy, and usually just a single tap when you’re using your phone.

If you try it from a PC, you might hit a small snag, but don’t worry — it’s easily fixed and only takes a few minutes with a bit of guidance. The link below walks you through the steps so you can get your card added without any fuss.

How to add to wallet from PC