The Aethelred Astronomical Society

An Archive of Our Search for the Stars (1968 - 1982)

Digitized from original documents found in the Finch Estate, 1987

Our Mission

Founded in 1968 by Dr. Alistair Finch, a former lecturer in astrophysics at Cambridge, the Aethelred Astronomical Society (AAS) was dedicated to advancing public understanding and making tangible contributions to astronomical science. We believed that with rigorous methodology and patient observation, even amateur outfits could add to the great corpus of human knowledge. Our work was built on principles of open data and a shared love for the cosmos.

The society was named after the Anglo-Saxon king Aethelred, known as "The Unready" - though we preferred the alternate translation of his epithet: "Noble Counsel." Like the ancient king, we sought to provide guidance through careful study of the signs above.

Observatory & Methods

Our primary instrument was "The Aethelred," a custom-built 12-inch Cassegrain reflector telescope on a heavy-duty German equatorial mount. For visual observation, we used a range of Plössl eyepieces (6mm to 32mm focal lengths). For our primary work in astrophotography, we employed Kodak Type 103a-O and 103a-E glass plates, which offered high sensitivity in the blue and red parts of the spectrum, respectively. An attached spectrograph allowed us to analyze the chemical composition of stars by splitting their light into a rainbow of frequencies.

The observatory was located 12 miles northeast of Cambridge, positioned on Gog Magog Hills at an elevation of 246 feet. The site was chosen for its minimal light pollution and excellent atmospheric conditions. Our dome was a modest 16-foot structure with manual rotation, constructed in 1969 with funds from the Royal Astronomical Society.

Planetary Observation Model

Our computerized solar system model aided in planetary observation scheduling and tracking celestial mechanics. The system accurately simulates orbital periods and planetary positions for optimal observation windows.

The model updates in real-time, showing current planetary positions relative to Earth. This assists in planning observations and understanding gravitational influences on our local measurements.

Equipment Inventory

Optical Equipment

• 12" f/8 Cassegrain reflector (custom)
• Plössl eyepieces: 6mm, 10mm, 15mm, 25mm, 32mm
• 2x Barlow lens (Celestron)
• Photographic plateholder assembly
• Hartmann mask for focus testing
• Solar filter (full-aperture, white-light)

Recording Equipment

• Kodak 103a-O plates (blue-sensitive)
• Kodak 103a-E plates (red-sensitive)
• Spectrograph (custom, f/4)
• Darkroom equipment (complete)
• Microdensitometer for plate analysis
• Chronometer (precision timing)

Society Members

[Photo: Dr. A. Finch]

Dr. Alistair Finch

Founder & Director

Former Cambridge astrophysicist. Specialized in stellar classification and variable star research. Left academia in 1967 following disagreements about research methodology.

[Photo: M. Wright]

Margaret Wright

Secretary & Archivist

Former librarian at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Meticulous record-keeper and photographer. Maintained all observational logs and correspondence.

[Photo: T. Davies]

Thomas Davies

Technical Coordinator

Instrument maker and optical specialist. Designed and built custom equipment including the society's spectrograph. Last seen January 13, 1982.

Key Discoveries & Contributions

Over our 14 years of operation, the AAS made several minor but notable contributions to astronomical science. We conducted a multi-year study of the pulsation period of the variable star Delta Cephei, providing data that helped refine the period-luminosity relationship crucial for distance measurements. We also tracked Comet Bennett (C/1969 Y1) in 1970, recording its position and magnitude changes throughout its approach.

Observational Data Summary

Object	Date	RA	Dec	App. Mag.	Notes
M31 (Andromeda)	1975-10-22	00h 42m 44s	+41° 16′ 9″	3.44	Standard reference
Delta Cephei	1977-03-15	22h 29m 10s	+58° 24′ 54″	4.07 (avg)	Variable period: 5.366 days
Comet Bennett	1970-04-05	01h 14m 21s	+45° 33′ 11″	-0.4	Peak brightness
NGC 7331	1978-09-12	22h 37m 04s	+34° 24′ 56″	10.4	Spiral galaxy study
Vega (α Lyr)	1979-07-20	18h 36m 56s	+38° 47′ 01″	0.03	Spectral standard A0V

Delta Cephei Light Curve (1977-1979)

Publications & Research

"Charting the Variable Luminosity of Cepheid Analogs"

A. Finch, M. Wright - Amateur Astronomy Monthly, Vol. 15, 1978

Multi-year photometric study establishing refined period-luminosity relationships for 23 Cepheid variables within 2000 light-years.

"A Photographic Survey of the Perseus Arm"

T. Davies, A. Finch - Stargazer's Journal, Vol. 42, 1980

Comprehensive photographic catalog of 347 stellar objects in the Perseus spiral arm, including proper motion measurements.

"On the Spectral Analysis of Void Regions"

A. Finch - Unpublished manuscript, 1981

Preliminary findings on spectroscopic anomalies detected in regions of apparent stellar absence. Note: Original plates exhibit unusual properties under laboratory analysis.

The Noctua Anomaly

The society's work culminated in 1981 with the discovery of what Dr. Finch termed "The Noctua Anomaly" at coordinates RA 23h 59m 28s, Dec +62° 02′ 08″. This region exhibited no detectable luminosity across any wavelength, yet gravitational lensing effects suggested a mass concentration orders of magnitude greater than the surrounding void. Spectrographic analysis yielded null results - no emission lines, no absorption features, simply a perfect cessation of all expected stellar radiation.

Most puzzling were the redshift measurements, which fluctuated chaotically between values suggesting extreme cosmological distance and impossible proximity. The data exhibited patterns that initially appeared to be instrumental noise, but subsequent analysis revealed a complex, non-random structure.

Spectral Analysis - Noctua Region

4000Å

Normal

5000Å

Normal

6000Å

Normal

7000Å

Normal

Noctua:

NULL

Final Observational Logs

LOG 1982-01-10 - M. Wright: The redshift fluctuations in the Noctua region aren't instrumental noise. They form a repeating sequence following prime number intervals. Dr. Finch has been working through the night in the data analysis room. He claims the pattern constitutes a form of communication.

LOG 1982-01-11 - M. Wright: Dr. Finch emerged this morning with concerning revelations. He insists our spectrographic plates aren't recording an absence of light, but rather a signal of pure darkness - a negation of electromagnetic radiation itself. He's convinced our telescope functions not as an optical instrument, but as some form of receiver. He's begun recalibrating the mirror alignment.

LOG 1982-01-12 - M. Wright: I can hear it now as well. A low-frequency hum that seems to originate inside my skull when observing the Noctua coordinates. Dr. Finch has covered the walls of his office with geometric diagrams that bear no resemblance to any stellar cartography I recognize. The angles in his drawings cause eye strain when viewed directly. Thomas hasn't reported for duty.

LOG 1982-01-12 - A. Finch: The equations are complete. Margaret doesn't understand yet, but she will. The Noctua region isn't empty - it's an aperture. A wound in the fabric of spacetime through which something vast and patient observes our local group. We were never studying stars. We were mapping the bars of our cage. The spectral signature isn't silence - it's the sound of something listening. I can feel its attention turning toward Earth.

LOG 1982-01-12 - T. Davies (final entry): The planetary model has malfunctioned. All orbital mechanics have ceased. Every celestial body in our solar system has stopped moving and turned to face Earth. This is impossible by any known physics. The model was supposed to simulate - not predict. Yet when I checked the telescope's planetary tracking system, it confirms the same positioning. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn - they have all stopped in their orbits. They are all staring at us.

From the Founder

"We look to the stars not for answers, but for better questions. The universe does not owe us clarity, only wonder. Each photon that reaches our instruments has traveled unimaginable distances, carrying with it the signature of cosmic events beyond human comprehension. In studying these ancient messengers, we participate in a dialogue that spans the cosmos."

Complete Publications List

• "Photometric Analysis of RR Lyrae Variables in M15," Monthly Notices Royal Astronomical Society, 1965.
• "Stellar Classification in the Digital Age," Cambridge Astrophysics Review, 1967.
• "Charting the Variable Luminosity of Cepheid Analogs," Amateur Astronomy Monthly, 1978.
• "A Photographic Survey of the Perseus Arm," Stargazer's Journal, 1980.
• "On the Resonant Frequencies of Empty Space," Private manuscript, 1981.

Archivist's Notes

The following materials were recovered from the Finch estate in 1987, five years after the society's unexplained dissolution. Dr. Finch, Margaret Wright, and Thomas Davies were never located despite extensive searches by local authorities.

• All photographic plates from 1981-1982 exhibit unusual properties when examined under laboratory conditions
• Multiple journals were found with pages torn out, particularly entries from December 1981
• The telescope remains at the observatory site, though the mirror alignment has been significantly altered
• Local residents report unusual electromagnetic interference in the area since 1982
• Three amateur astronomers have independently reported similar "void regions" using the society's published coordinates
• Dr. Finch's final calculations remain unsolved by Cambridge mathematics department

This archive is maintained for historical purposes only. Readers are advised that attempts to replicate the society's final observations are discouraged due to equipment safety concerns.