Public observing sessions are organised often,They are dependent on weather and available astro boffins to support. We strive to have at least two experienced amateurs at each session to ensure visitors without binoculars or telescopes have a couple of telescopes to look through and anyone with their own kit can seek assistance in setting up or using it to best effect.
Sessions are best planned around the new moon each month. This said, up to the moon’s first quarter gives observers the opportunity to look at the terminator on the moon at the beginning of a session and then move on to planets, stars or deep sky objects later.
The start times for the sessions vary throughout the year but are generally an hour or so after sunset and the sessions last for 2 to 3 hours.
To come to future observation sessions, register your interest via the Contact form and we will get back to you. Alternatively just email stargazing-join@bathastronomers.org.uk. You’ll be added to the mailing list and when the next observing session is being planned, we’ll email you to let you know. You can unsubscribe using stargazing-leave@bathastronomers.org.uk at any time. Once you join Bath Astronomers, you can opt in or out of emails regarding events.
Rather than scheduling viewing sessions or star parties weeks in advance, our preference is to watch the 5-Day weather forecast and if it looks promising for a particular evening, we’ll send out an email to the mailing list. A further email is sent out on the day to confirm whether the event is on or off. Always wait for this confirmation before setting out to avoid a lonely evening.
We generally use the public car park at Wellow but have also used Round Hill and Whitesheet Hill previously.
- Getting to Wellow
- Getting to Round Hill, Bath
- Getting to White Sheet Hill, Wiltshire
Upon arrival, dim your car lights and extinguish them at the earliest opportunity. This preserves the night vision of those already observing. Simply make yourself known to those already there and you can get advice on where to set up your own kit or on what scopes we have and what we might see that evening.
Require more information, try one of the these…
- What to wear?
- What to bring?