Bath Astronomers – Looking up into the skies above Somerset in awe

What are we up to?

Jan27

Talk by Nick Howes, Oh My God, We're all gonna die

27 JanOnline

Wednesday 27th January – Monthly meeting. Nick Howes has sixteen years' experience working at the cutting edge of Research and Development. Formerly Deputy Director of Kielder Observatory, Sci-Comms for ESA, software development for the SKA Telescope, and Pro-Am Programme Manager for the Faulkes Telescopes, helping to discover dozens of new asteroids. Nick is both a fellow of the BIS and of the Royal Astronomical Society, and works now as the Lead Specialist for BMT's Space R&D team. BMT Defence and Security were the architectural design team behind the QEC Aircraft Carrier, and have offices all over the world, including Bath. His Talk "Oh My God...We're all gonna die" takes us through the perceived threats in space, and hones in on the ones that could truly change the face of our planet forever. Bath Astronomers monthly meeting for all members and new comers to meet up, enjoy perhaps a new topic and a cup of tea and a biscuit. Usually held on the last Wednesday of every month at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street. Due to COVID-19, this talk is being delivered via Zoom. The format is open and comprises an update for the month and a talk on an astronomy topic within the reach of amateurs. Picture: Nick Howes

Feb24

Talk by Nora Eisner, Planet Hunters TESS: discovering exoplanets using citizen science

24 FebZoom

Wednesday 24th February – Monthly meeting. This month's talk will be given by Nora Eisner, Department of Physics, University of Oxford. She is a PhD student at the University of Oxford where her research focuses on citizen-powered exoplanet discoveries using NASA's TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) data. She is working under the supervision of Professor Chris Lintott and Professor Suzanne Aigrain. The talk is entitled "Planet Hunters TESS: discovering exoplanets using citizen science". Nora's research focuses on citizen-powered exoplanet discoveries using TESS data via Planet Hunters TESS. As the leader of this exciting project she collates the returns from the citizen science campaigns, analyse them, and follows-up on the most promising detections using ground based facilities. The analysis of the extremely large time-series data sets has a strong emphasis on applying various statistical processes, as well as using machine learning in order detect exciting new planet systems that were missed by the main pipelines and other teams of professional astronomers. Bath Astronomers monthly meeting for all members and new comers to meet up, enjoy perhaps a new topic and a cup of tea and a biscuit. Held on the last Wednesday of every month online or at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street.

Mar31

Talk by Dr Julian Onions - Aperture Fever

31 MarOnline

Wednesday 31st March – Monthly meeting. Topic: Aperture Fever - does my mirror look big in this? After a very brief review of how telescopes work, we look at some of the existing telescopes, both visible and other wavebands, and consider why they are so big, what they can and can't see and what the telescopes planned for the next few years will deliver. Dr Julian Onions has always had an interest in astronomy, and after many years as an amateur went for a Phd in astrophysics at the University of Nottingham. There he studies computer models of galaxy formation using some of the biggest computers in the world, building model universes using mostly dark matter. He also helps out with undergraduate teaching and various outreach activities. The format is open and comprises an update for the month and a talk on an astronomy topic within the reach of amateurs. Bath Astronomers monthly meeting for all members and new comers to meet up, enjoy perhaps a new topic and a cup of tea and a biscuit. Usually held on the last Wednesday of every month at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street. Due to COVID-19, this talk will be held online via Zoom Members receive details of the Zoom meeting by email. Members of the public are welcome to join, just request the Zoom details by emailing hello@bathastronomers.org.uk Picture: Dr Julian Onions

Apr28

Talk by Mary McIntyre

28 AprZoom

Wednesday 28th April – Monthly meeting. This month's talk will be given by Mary McIntyre. Mary is a well renown astro artist and astrophotographer. The format is open and comprises an update for the month and a talk on an astronomy topic within the reach of amateurs. Bath Astronomers monthly meeting for all members and new comers to meet up, enjoy perhaps a new topic and a cup of tea and a biscuit. Held on the last Wednesday of every month online or at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street. Due to COVID-19, this talk will be held online via Zoom Members receive details of the Zoom meeting by email. Members of the public are welcome to join, just request the Zoom details by emailing hello@bathastronomers.org.uk

May26

Talk by Pete Williamson FRAS

26 MayHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Wednesday 26th May – Monthly meeting. Topic: From Herschel to Hawkwind Bath Astronomers monthly meeting for all members and new comers to meet up, enjoy perhaps a new topic and a cup of tea and a biscuit. Held on the last Wednesday of every month at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street. The format is open and comprises an update for the month and a talk on an astronomy topic within the reach of amateurs. All visitors welcome and there is a charge of £5. Reduced to £2 for juniors, students or Herschel Society members. Bath Astronomers members get free entry. Picture: Peter Williamson

Jun30

Talk by Chris Starr, Cassini and Saturn

30 JunHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Wednesday 30th June – Monthly meeting. Bath Astronomers monthly meeting for all members and new comers to meet up, enjoy perhaps a new topic and a cup of tea and a biscuit. Held on the last Wednesday of every month at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street. The format is open and comprises an update for the month and a talk on an astronomy topic within the reach of amateurs. All visitors welcome and there is a charge of £5 which helps cover the cost of the venue. Reduced to £2 for juniors, students or Bath Astronomers members. Picture: Simon Holbeche

Latest Post

Oh My God…We’re all gonna die

A talk by Nick Howes on Wednesday 27th January at 7:30pm (doors open 7:15pm). Nick will take us through the perceived threats in space to our existence, and he’ll hone in on the ones that could truly change the face of our planet forever. Hopefully none of these will occur before the end of the...

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First contact

Membership is open to all and to encourage families and younger stargazers under 18s join for free. The team at Bath Astronomers organise talks, public stargazing evenings, society observing sessions, joint events with other societies, visits to schools in Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, young peoples' organisations and other community groups to inspire and encourage an interest in the night sky, science and space travel. If you've a school(KS1 to KS3) or group that would love us to visit then please get in touch. Visits can include classroom sessions, activities and observing.

If you're thinking about buying a telescope then perhaps this article will help.

Pop along to one of our monthly gatherings and say hello. We hope you'll like it so much you'll want to join us. For those already bitten by the bug, you can join Bath Astronomers online. Our diary of upcoming events is shown on this page for you to have a look at. Alternatively you can download a handy pdf of the main events. You can also join our mailing list.

Welcome

Latest Post

Oh My God…We’re all gonna die

Recent Posts

Star Count 2021

Planet Hunters TESS: discovering exoplanets using citizen science

High Resolution Astrophotography

A Life on Mars

First contact