Stardate: 20260701
Newsletter - July 2026
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You are warmly welcome to our next meeting
Wednesday June 10th at 20:00
at
The Lindop Building
University of Hertfordshire
College Lane
Hatfield
AL10 9AB
Finding the location
What 3 words ///hats.composers.planet
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2TQFxY9r8kXYFWwo9
June 10th - Louise Devoy
Royal Observatory Greenwich - A History through objects
Louise Devoy is the Curator of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. Her role as curator involves tasks such as cataloging collections, researching the history of the Observatory, answering public inquiries, presenting talks, refreshing existing displays and creating new exhibitions. She is responsible for the collection of historical astronomical instruments.
After her initial studies in Physics with Astrophysics (MPhys) at the University of Leicester, she undertook postgraduate studies in the history of science at Imperial College London/University of London (MSc, History of Science, Medicine and Technology) before embarking on a PhD (history of science in museums) in collaboration with the Science Museum, London. She has worked in several national museums in the UK and the US, including:
National Space Centre, Leicester
Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC
Science Museum, London
British Museum, London
Her research focuses on astronomical instruments, women in astronomy, and the history of observatory networks. She is the author of "Royal Observatory Greenwich: A History in Objects," published to celebrate the Observatory’s 350th anniversary in 2025. Louise has also contributed to major exhibitions such as Observatory Life and The Moon, and serves as Principal Investigator for the UKRI-AHRC-funded project Observatory Sites and Networks since 1780.
Louise will be bringing some of her books with her so you will be able to purchase them at the meeting. Unfortunately Louise apologises for not having a card reader so cash only (remember that?)
On the Line: The story of the Greenwich Meridian (£8)
We're getting ready to say goodbye to Mailchimp ....
We’re getting ready to say a cheerful goodbye to Mailchimp as we move into a more modern, resilient way of keeping everyone connected. Mailchimp has served us brilliantly for over a decade, but with only one person able to access the account — and no way to update those details — it’s time for a system that supports the whole club, not just one administrator.
So we’re excited to shift our Newsletters to the website, with MemberMojo sending a quick alert whenever a new edition is published. This means you’ll always know exactly where to find the latest Newsletter, without digging through old emails. All paid‑up members will receive the notifications automatically, and those who choose “Newsletter Only” will continue to enjoy updates too. It’s a fresh, reliable step forward for HAG, and we’re delighted to make communication even smoother for everyone.
If you want to sign up just to our Newsletter please follow this path:
In your Browser type: https://membermojo.co.uk/hertsastro/joinus
And choose the “Join Us / Renew” Button this will take you to the membership credentials page, from there choose the “*Membership” field and choose “Newsletter Only” from the drop down List then complete the rest of the required fields.
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Fancy a great day out?
🌞 We’re gearing up for a fantastic day at the Wheathampstead Village Day on Saturday 11 July, and we’d love our members to join us! Hertford Astronomy Group will be out in force, promoting the club and sharing the excitement of astronomy with the community. We’ll be demonstrating several of our telescopes — including solar scopes, weather permitting — giving visitors the rare chance to safely view the Sun and see features like sunspots and granulation up close. As always, we’ll be arriving around 10:00 am to set up, and we must have all cars cleared from our allocated area by 11:00 am, so an extra pair of hands during that hour is hugely appreciated.
To make the day even sweeter, every member who comes along to support us gets a free ice cream as a thank‑you. The Village Day itself is packed with entertainment, music, stalls and family activities, so it’s a brilliant summer outing as well as a great opportunity for outreach. Come along, lend a hand, enjoy the sunshine, and help us inspire the next generation of sky‑watchers.
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Your Membership Matters
🌟 A New Era for Hertford Astronomy Group: MemberMojo Is Coming!
We’re excited to announce that Hertford Astronomy Group is moving to a modern, streamlined membership system — MemberMojo — designed to make joining and renewing easier than ever for all our members. This upgrade marks a major step forward in how we run the club, communicate with you, and support our growing community of stargazers.
⭐ 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’re introducing PayPal and Stripe so you can pay by:
PayPal balance
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.
🌠 Launching Soon!
We’ll share full instructions on how to log in, renew, and manage your details as we roll out the new system. 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.
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In the August edition you can look forward to hearing more about our solar eclipse gathering on August 12th
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Best regards to you all from your Committee
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