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

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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

Sep29

BA Monthly talk by Pete Richardson

29 SepZoom

Bath Astronomers meet up every month from September to June for a chat, share information and for a talk by a great speaker. This month's talk will be given by Pete Richardson and is on how to go about building your own 10" or even 20" telescope. Pete completed a 10" Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount in 2020 and is now building a 20" instrument for the back garden. Pete is a renown astrophotographer and a keen amateur astronomer based in Bleadon, W-s-M. He is a member of Wells & Mendip Astronomers. Bath Astronomers monthly meeting are for new comers and members 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. Doors open at 7:15pm and the events come to a close usually by 9:00pm. Online events are free and museum events have a small entry fee for non-members to help us cover costs. Talks are on the following subjects: practical astronomy, current astro science, and space exploration.

Oct27

BA Monthly talk by Prof Lucie Green

27 OctZoom

Bath Astronomers meet up every month from September to June for a chat, share information and for a talk by a great speaker. This month's talk will be given by Prof Lucie Green and is on the current research on solar physics and the mysteries the Sun holds. Lucie Green is a Professor of Physics and a Royal Society University Research Fellow based at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, UCL’s Department of Space and Climate Physics. Lucie studies activity in the atmosphere of our nearest star, the Sun, looking in particular at immense magnetic fields in the Sun’s atmosphere which sporadically erupt into the Solar System. Lucie is very active in public engagement with science and delivers fascinating talks to schools, corporations and festivals on astronomy, space weather, climate change and the Sun. Bath Astronomers monthly meeting are for new comers and members 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. Doors open at 7:15pm and the events come to a close usually by 9:00pm. Online events are free and museum events have a small entry fee for non-members to help us cover costs. Talks are on the following subjects: practical astronomy, current astro science, and space exploration.

Nov24

BA Monthly talk by Hannah Sergeant

24 NovZoom

Bath Astronomers meet up every month from September to June for a chat, share information and for a talk by a great speaker. This month's talk will be given by Hannah Sergeant and is on her research on the lunar regolith or Moon soil to everyone else. Hannah went to the University of Leicester where she was awarded an MSc with distinction in Space Exploration Systems. She is currently studying her PhD at the the Open University in water extraction from the lunar regolith. Hannah is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and was awarded the Amelia Earhart Fellowship in 2019, an international award for women in aerospace science and engineering. In 2020 she was selected for the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the field of Science and Healthcare. Bath Astronomers monthly meeting are for new comers and members 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. Doors open at 7:15pm and the events come to a close usually by 9:00pm. Online events are free and museum events have a small entry fee for non-members to help us cover costs. Talks are on the following subjects: practical astronomy, current astro science, and space exploration.

Latest Post

Aperture Fever – does my mirror look big in this?

The guest for March’s Bath Astronomers’ gathering is Dr Julian Onions from University of Nottingham. His talk is entitled “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...

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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

Aperture Fever – does my mirror look big in this?

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First contact