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

What are we up to?

Sep16

Getting to Grips with the Night Sky: Introduction to astronomy

16 SepZoom web meeting

A talk on the night sky, how to get more involved in stargazing and ideas for enjoying astronomy. All are welcome from beginners upwards. It is intended to show you the simple science of the night skies above your head and how that knowledge can help you observe. You'll need to download the Zoom app onto your computer to get involved. Do this well beforehand and check you're happy your speakers and microphone work ok. We'll make the link available for the session in early September Please consider a donation to the Society or joining to help us cover the costs of running these events. Credit: NASA, Juno

Sep30

Talk by Mark Radice, Observing the Planets

30 SepHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Our monthly meeting enjoys a wonderful talk by Mark Radice on "Observing the Planets". “Observing the Planets” describes the joy of observing the planets and includes Mark’s images and sketches from many years of practical observing. It also includes images when Mark observed every planet in the solar system (and the Moon, Sun, Earth and numerous moons) in 1 night during a club trip to the IAC Observatory on Mt Teide, Tenerife with a telescope that had been dragged through aircraft security in hand luggage. Mark has been an active observer since first comet Hyakutake and then Hale Bopp graced the skies in the 1990s. Having observed 2 stunning comets through binoculars, he remains profoundly disappointed as he waits for the next bright comet to appear. He now observes from his garden observatory near Salisbury when not visiting star parties and dark skies in the UK and overseas. He has had articles and images published in Astronomy Now and output of a decidedly lesser quality on his own website http://RefreshingViews.com. Bath Astronomers' monthly meeting is open to newcomers and members alike to meet up, enjoy an interesting 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, Bath or online based on the latest government advice. 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 enter for free. Picture: Mark Radice

Oct28

Talk by Stephen Tonkin, Two Eyes are Better than One

28 OctHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Wednesday 28th October – Monthly meeting. A talk by Stephen Tonkin on binocular astronomy. Two Eyes are Better than One. Steve Tonkin has been an amateur astronomer since childhood and now spends most of his time doing astronomical outreach; he leads public observing sessions at BBC Stargazing Live events. He has taught astronomy to adults and children for over 35 years and has authored many articles and several books on practical aspects of astronomy. He writes equipment reviews and a monthly Binocular Tour for BBC Sky at Night magazine. Steve is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, a past-chairman of the Wessex Astronomical Society and a founder member of Fordingbridge 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 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 William Herschel Society members. Bath Astronomers members get free entry. Picture: Stephen Tonkin

Nov18

Getting to Grips with the Night Sky: Introduction to astronomy

18 NovHerschel Museum of Astronomy

A talk on the night sky, how to get more involved in stargazing and ideas for enjoying astronomy. All are welcome from beginners upwards. It is intended to show you the simple science of the night skies above your head and how that knowledge can help you observe. The location for the talk if the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street, Bath. BA1 2BL. There is a charge of £5 per head for adults. Accompanied young people can attend for free. For those that decide to join Bath Astronomers by end of November, the £5 will be deducted from the membership subscription payment due. Credit: NASA, Juno

Nov25

A Life on Mars. Talk by Bud Martin

25 NovHerschel Museum of Astronomy

A Life On Mars by Bud Martin We take a look at the personalities, speculations and theories that have contributed to our changing views of the Red Planet over the last 150 years. From the sublime to the ridiculous, we examine what it takes to visit our near neighbour. About Bud Bud first became interested in astronomy at 8 years old after seeing a bright meteor flash across the night sky. Determined to learn more, he avidly read all the astronomy books in the local Public Library then set about making his first telescope from spectacle lenses and cardboard tubes. At the same time, he developed a love for music and by the age of 13 had made his own electric guitar. Nearly 60 years later, Bud is still performing at gigs on his equally old Gibson 345. Astigmatism in his right (dominant) eye began to make observation at the telescope eyepiece a troublesome experience so Bud developed a system using a modified web-cam to view the heavens. Naturally, this paved the way to enable him to capture the images he was seeing on the computer screen. Constantly improving camera sensor technology meant that before long he was seeing objects – especially on the Lunar surface – in such detail impossible with his naked eye. Bud is an internationally published Lunar Astrophotographer. The event: 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. Bath Astronomers' members and under 18s enter for free. All visitors welcome and there is an entry charge of £5. Reduced to £2 for Herschel Society members and students. Picture: Bud Martin

Jan27

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

27 JanHerschel Museum of Astronomy

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. 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 William Herschel Society members. Bath Astronomers members get free entry. Picture: Nick Howes

Feb24

Talk by Nora Eisner, University of Oxford

24 FebHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Wednesday 24th February – Monthly meeting. This month's talk will be given by Nora Eisner, Department of Physics, University of Oxford. She is a DPhil student working under the supervision of Professor Chris Lintott and Professor Suzanne Aigrain. 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. 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 William Herschel Society members. Bath Astronomers members get in for free.

Mar31

Talk by Pete Williamson FRAS

31 MarHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Wednesday 31st March – Monthly meeting. Topic to be confirmed: Observing the Moon, or 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 William Herschel Society members. Bath Astronomers members get free entry. Picture: Peter Williamson

Apr28

Talk by Mary McIntyre

28 AprHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Wednesday 28th April – Monthly meeting. This month's talk will be given by Mary McIntyre. Mary is a well reknown astro artist and astrophotographer. 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. 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 William Herschel Society members. Bath Astronomers members get in for free.

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

Observing the Planets talk

Mark Radice joins us on Wednesday 30th September at 7:30pm to give us a wonderful talk. “Observing the Planets” describes the joy of observing the planets and includes Mark’s images and sketches from many years of practical observing. It also includes images when Mark observed every planet in the solar system (and the Moon, Sun,...

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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

Observing the Planets talk

Recent Posts

Naked-eye Comet NEOWISE

Getting to grips with the night sky

Turning photos into Wow!! images

A Brief History of Rovers and Landers

First contact