Weather | |||
| +1hr | +2hr | +3hr | +6hr |
 | | |  |
Sun/Twilight | |||
| Sun | 05:04R | 21:25S | |
| Naut | Astro | Dark | Astro |
| 22:08 | 23:14 | NA | NA |
Solar | |||
| H Alpha | White Light | ||
 |  | ||
Space Weather | |||
 |  | ||
| Imminent Storm? 1% chance | |||
| Forecast Auroral Kp: | |||
| +3hr | +6hr | +9hr | +12hr |
| 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
Shooting Stars | |||
| Peak | ZHR | ||
| Alpha Capricornids | 30 Jul | 5 | |
Moon | |||
 | Full Moon | ||
| Age: | 15.0d | ||
| Illum. | 100% | ||
| 22:22R | 05:04S | ||
Planets | |||
| Neptune | 00:03R | 12:01S | |
| Saturn | 00:08R | 11:56S | |
| Uranus | 01:54R | 17:32S | |
| Venus | 02:30R | 18:01S | |
| Jupiter | 04:11R | 20:32S | |
| Mercury | 07:32R | 22:13S | |
| Mars | 10:15R | 23:29S | |
R means Rise time S means Set time Times are local to Bath | |||
Last updated: 11-07-2025 03:00 | |||
What do Bath Astronomers do?
Click each to find out more about our space/astronomy talks, local stargazing, mobile planetarium shows, schools', young peoples' organisations and community outreach, the Observatory Shop, our Box Office, or becoming a member.
When is the next Bath Astronomers' gathering?
Wednesday 24th September at 7:30pm at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI).
Talk by Dr Robert Massey: "A Cluttered and Noisy Sky? How satellite constellations threaten astronomy (and why you should care).“
Robert is the Deputy Director of the Royal Astronomical Society and is regularly heard on the Supermassive Podcast. Please reserve a seat for the talk to avoid disappointment.
A full list of our planned monthly meetings can be found here. For consistency, we arrange gatherings on the last Wednesday of the month starting at 7:30pm. We arrange for professional or amateur speakers to talk to us on astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, or space travel for an hour followed by questions. The gatherings are great opportunities to chat and catch up as well as for those interested in joining to find out about the many reasons to join BA like free access to events like talks and organised observing evenings.
Have you visited "Capturing the Cosmos"?
In a wonderful collaboration between the members of Bath Astronomers and the Curators at Bath Preservation Trust, the 2025 exhibition in the Herschel Museum of Astronomy is "Capturing the Cosmos - Astrophotography by the Bath Astronomers" and it will be running until 4th January 2026.
Have a close look at the day and night sky images taken by 12 members of Bath Astronomers. From landscape views of the Milky Way to detail panoramas of stars and gas in the Orion constellation tens of thousands of light years away. We have a strong community of astrophotographers within Bath Astronomers supporting those wishing to record the beauty they see through the eyepiece of the telescope. Whether just using your mobile phone to capture the aurora or the Moon, or using DSLRs and astro cameras for smaller subjects, the group can help you improve what you are doing. The current exhibition was borne from a one night only astrophotography display in November 2024. Find out more about the exhibition on the Herschel Museum website.
Entry to the Herschel Museum of Astronomy is free to members of Bath Astronomers.
When are the next stargazing opportunities for the public to attend?
We aim to organise a public stargazing evening at least once each month. We try to vary the locations to make it easier for people in different areas of Bath to join in. They are run by members of Bath Astronomers who volunteer to support public outreach. All telescopes are provided. All events are weather dependent so you must register so we can advise you beforehand whether it is going ahead and avoid travel if cloud or rain are likely.
The next events are on:
- Tue 12th August, Perseid Meteor Shower @ Lansdown Playing Field South behind Lansdown P&R, Lansdown, Bath from 10:00pm - Midnight. Register for weather call
- Fri 29th August, Guided Stargazing @ Lansdown Playing Field South behind Lansdown P&R, Lansdown, Bath from 9:00pm - 11:00pm. Register for weather call
- Sat 13th September, Guided Stargazing @ Monkton Combe Community Observatory, Bath from 8:30pm - 10:30pm. Register for weather call
- Sat 20th September, Guided Stargazing @ Monkton Combe Community Observatory, Bath from 8:30pm - 10:30pm. Register for weather call
- Fri 26th September, Guided Stargazing @ Lansdown Playing Field South behind Lansdown P&R, Lansdown, Bath from 8:00pm - 10:00pm. Register for weather call
- Sat 27th September, Guided Stargazing @ Monkton Combe Community Observatory, Bath from 8:00pm - 10:00pm. Register for weather call
- Sat 18th October, Guided Stargazing @ Monkton Combe Community Observatory, Bath from 7:30pm - 9:30pm. Register for weather call
- Fri 24th October, Guided Stargazing @ Lansdown Playing Field South behind Lansdown P&R, Lansdown, Bath from 7:00pm - 10:00pm. Register for weather call
- Sat 25th October, Guided Stargazing @ Station Road Car Park, Wellow Village nr Bath from 7:00pm - 10:00pm.Register for weather call
Note: All events are weather dependent so please register and check emails before travelling/2hrs before start time to ensure it is still running.
When are the next Bath Abbey stargazing tours?
- Fri 28th November, Bath Abbey Stargazing Tours, from 6:00pm - 9:00pm.
- Fri 5th December, Bath Abbey Stargazing Tours, from 6:00pm - 9:00pm.
- Fri 12th December, Bath Abbey Stargazing Tours, from 6:00pm - 9:00pm.
Why be part of an astronomical society?
"Space is big. Really Big", to steal a phrase from Douglas Adams. Hence it can be a daunting challenge to look up and find out what you are looking at. There is a huge volume of information available online, and more apps and programs than stars in the sky but, as in many things in life, just talking to someone in a relaxed and comfortable setting is worth hours of trawling the Internet. Bath Astronomers is your local group of stargazers, armchair and amateur astronomers who strive to create that space for you to find out more, ask 'silly' questions, and share your hobby or passion for the night and daytime sky.
We run shared observing events as often as the weather and Moon allow each month and it's a great opportunity to see telescopes in operation especially if you're thinking about purchasing one. We also loan telescopes to members to try before you buy.
You don't need to dive in immediately and we welcome visitors to find out what we offer as a group. Why not pop along and say 'hello'. We hope to create a diverse community where everyone feels welcome. Why not contact us hello@bathastronomers.org.uk
Taking astronomy into the classroom and beyond
Bath Astronomers are very keen to bring the wonders of the night sky to as many people as possible and have visited many local primary and secondary schools with planetarium shows and workshops as well as practical stargazing and observing experiences to several thousand people. We make our classroom resources available to all at https://stem.bathastronomers.org.uk. Our events have included making telescopes, making paper rockets and launching them, learning about orbits with gravity wells, making planispheres, observing the Sun safely, making spectrographs and using 2 metre telescopes in Hawaii and in Siding Spring, Australia controlled from the classroom to remotely photograph the Universe. Workshops and talks have also been run for Bath Royal Literature and Science Institute (BRLSI), University of the 3rd Age, English Heritage, Exmoor National Park, the Scout Association, Girlguiding, National Trust, Bath Preservation Trust, and the Herschel Museum of Astronomy to name a few.
Astronomy is a great vehicle for getting people interested and participating in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) and it can be fun launching eggs in homemade rockets and driving lego robots across simulated Martian valleys whether you're participating or helping to run an event.
Perhaps your school wants to explore our free resources.
We are actively following the progress on the UK's Astronaut, Dr Rosemary Coogan, on her training and journey to the International Space Station. To help schools use her journey to inspire young minds, we are providing life-sized cardboard cut-outs of Rosemary to schools and keeping them updated on Rosemary's progress via this timeline.
Perhaps you know a group that would benefit from one of our visits? Just contact us hello@bathastronomers.org.uk