Your membership – Bath Astronomers

Next monthly meeting

Wednesday 26th May
- on Zoom

Why not become
a member of

Bath Astronomers

JOIN

Share experiences using your photos with

PADLET

Sign-up for
our mailing list

Next Stargazing session

@ Wellow car park:
Paused due to Covid-19

Know a school or group who'd benefit from our visit?

Download our list of upcoming events

DOWNLOAD

What are we up to?

May26

Talk by Pete Williamson FRAS "The Moon and moons of the Solar System"

26 MayHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Wednesday 26th May – Monthly meeting. Topic: The Moon and moons of the Solar System Pete takes us on a tour of the Solar System from our moon outwards. What's your favourite moon? 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. Due to COVID-19, this meeting will be held via Zoom. The link to Zoom is https://zoom.us/j/3212071969 Please contact us via any channel find out what password we are using this month. The format is open and comprises an update for the month and a talk on an astronomy topic within the reach of amateurs. Picture: Peter Williamson

Jun21

Sun watching on the Summer Solstice

21 JunHerschel Museum of Astronomy

A day of watching the Sun and finding out all about how it works at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy in collaboration with Bath Astronomers. Pre-booked bubbles can visit the Museum and garden from where the planet Uranus was discovered and observe the Sun on the Solstice through special telescopes under the safe guidance of local amateur astronomers. 5 slots will be available throughout the day: 10:00-11:00 11:30-12:30 13:00-14:00 14:30-15:30 16:00-17:00

Jun30

Members' Night

30 JunZoom

A evening dedicated to members talking about their own activities and projects over 2021 and what they plan to take on in the following season. If you'd like to get involved and talk about what you're up to from 5 to 15mins then let us know.

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.

Jan26

BA Monthly talk by Dr Tim Gregory

26 JanHerschel Museum of Astronomy

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 Dr Tim Gregory and is on Meteorites. 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.

Apr27

BA Monthly talk by Chris Starr, Cassini and Saturn

27 AprHerschel 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

The Moon

New Moon (Illumination: 0.8%)
Age: 0.85 days (Phase: 2.9%)
Size: 29.5' (Distance: 405,186km)
Moon rise: 04:50
Moon set: 20:43

New Moon	First Quarter	Full Moon	Last Quarter
Tue 11 May	Wed 19 May	Wed 26 May	Wed 2 Jun
Thu 10 Jun	Fri 18 Jun	Thu 24 Jun	Thu 1 Jul
Sat 10 Jul	Sat 17 Jul	Sat 24 Jul	Sat 31 Jul
Sun 8 Aug	Sun 15 Aug	Sun 22 Aug	Mon 30 Aug

The Sun

Sunset: 19:49
End twilight: 22:41
Begin twilight: 01:26
Sunrise: 04:20

Current Meteor Showers

Shower	Start	Peak	End	ZHR
Eta Aquariids	19 Apr	6 May	28 May	50
Eta Lyrids	3 May	9 May	14 May	3

The Planets

Planet	Rises	Sets	Constellation	Disk Size	Sun separation
Mercury	Wednesday 05:08:20	Wednesday 21:58:18	Tau	7.1" (54%)	21.1°
Venus	Wednesday 04:58:20	Wednesday 20:55:33	Tau	10.0" (16%)	12.1°
Mars	Thursday 07:16:48	Thursday 23:56:40	Gem	4.4" (17%)	49.4°
Jupiter	Thursday 01:55:11	Thursday 11:52:11	Aqr	37.9" (77%)	82.6°
Saturn	Thursday 01:19:27	Thursday 10:18:25	Cap	16.5" (82%)	99.0°
Uranus	Wednesday 04:05:06	Wednesday 18:42:37	Ari	3.4" (83%)	10.2°
Neptune	Thursday 02:37:29	Thursday 14:00:45	Aqr	2.2" (100%)	59.8°

Rise and Set times are with respect to Bath, UK. (%) indicates size compared to maximum possible. As Separation with the Sun approaches 0°, we have Conjunction. As it approaches 180°, we have Opposition. Planets will not be visible between Sunrise(04:18) and Sunset(19:51)

Messier objects due South now

Messier	Name	Type	Magnitude	Constellation
M44	Beehive Cluster	Open Cluster	3.1	Cancer
M67	NGC2682	Open Cluster	6.9	Cancer
M81	Bodes Nebula	Spiral Galaxy	6.8	Ursa Major
M82	Cigar Galaxy	Ir. Gx.	8.4	Ursa Major

Click on the Messier number for the finders guide for the deep sky object.

Spot the Space Station from Bath

Date	Mag	Start	Max	End
Thu 13 May	-2.0	01:04:55 look E alt 39°	39°	01:07:06 look E alt 11°
Thu 13 May	-2.9	02:37:55 look W alt 15°	87°	02:43:57 look E alt 11°
Thu 13 May	-2.2	04:14:24 look W alt 12°	42°	04:20:34 look SE alt 10°
Fri 14 May	-1.2	00:18:19 look E alt 23°	23°	00:19:41 look E alt 10°
Fri 14 May	-2.9	01:51:18 look W alt 24°	83°	01:56:30 look E alt 11°
Fri 14 May	-2.6	03:26:43 look W alt 10°	56°	03:33:14 look ESE alt 10°
Fri 14 May	-0.6	21:51:28 look SSE alt 10°	13°	21:54:12 look ESE alt 10°
Fri 14 May	-2.3	23:25:48 look SW alt 10°	47°	23:32:16 look E alt 10°
Sat 15 May	-2.9	01:02:28 look W alt 11°	85°	01:09:03 look E alt 11°
Sat 15 May	-2.8	02:39:18 look W alt 11°	71°	02:45:52 look ESE alt 11°
Sat 15 May	-1.3	04:16:30 look W alt 11°	22°	04:21:33 look SSE alt 11°
Sat 15 May	-1.9	22:38:46 look SW alt 11°	35°	22:44:36 look E alt 11°
Sun 16 May	-2.9	00:15:02 look W alt 11°	88°	00:21:36 look E alt 11°
Sun 16 May	-2.9	01:51:52 look W alt 11°	84°	01:58:26 look ESE alt 11°
Sun 16 May	-1.7	03:28:51 look W alt 11°	31°	03:34:37 look SSE alt 11°
Sun 16 May	-1.5	21:51:33 look SSW alt 10°	25°	21:57:12 look E alt 10°
Sun 16 May	-2.9	23:27:36 look WSW alt 11°	77°	23:34:09 look E alt 11°
Mon 17 May	-2.9	01:04:26 look W alt 11°	87°	01:11:00 look E alt 11°
Mon 17 May	-2.1	02:41:27 look W alt 12°	42°	02:47:21 look SE alt 12°
Mon 17 May	-0.4	04:19:53 look SW alt 10°	10°	04:21:11 look SSW alt 10°
Mon 17 May	-2.8	22:40:12 look WSW alt 11°	62°	22:46:44 look E alt 10°
Tue 18 May	-2.9	00:16:58 look W alt 11°	83°	00:23:16 look E alt 13°
Tue 18 May	-2.1	01:53:46 look W alt 10°	41°	01:56:13 look WSW alt 41°
Tue 18 May	-2.5	21:52:51 look SW alt 10°	48°	21:59:19 look E alt 10°
Tue 18 May	-2.9	23:29:31 look W alt 11°	85°	23:36:05 look E alt 11°
Wed 19 May	-2.8	01:06:21 look W alt 11°	71°	01:09:37 look SSW alt 71°
Wed 19 May	-3.0	22:42:04 look W alt 11°	89°	22:48:38 look E alt 11°
Thu 20 May	-2.9	00:18:55 look W alt 11°	84°	00:23:17 look ESE alt 40°
Thu 20 May	-0.5	01:55:53 look W alt 11°	14°	01:56:25 look W alt 14°
Thu 20 May	-3.0	21:54:38 look WSW alt 11°	77°	22:01:11 look E alt 11°
Thu 20 May	-2.9	23:31:28 look W alt 11°	87°	23:37:13 look E alt 17°
Fri 21 May	-1.4	01:08:29 look W alt 12°	27°	01:10:05 look WSW alt 27°
Fri 21 May	-3.0	22:44:00 look W alt 11°	83°	22:50:34 look E alt 11°
Sat 22 May	-2.5	00:20:48 look W alt 10°	55°	00:24:03 look SSW alt 55°

Latest Starlink Satellites - 4th February

Date	Satellite	Rise	Max	Set

This is a satellite from the 18th batch of 60 of the Starlink constellation launched4th February 2021

Prior Starlink Satellites - L16 - 20th January

Date	Satellite	Rise	Max	Set
Wed 12 May	STARLINK-2069	22:40:26 look W alt 10°	15°	22:44:45 look SSW alt 12°
Thu 13 May	STARLINK-2069	22:34:52 look WSW alt 10°	12°	22:37:55 look SSW alt 10°

This is one of the satellites from the 17th batch of 60 of the Starlink constellation launched on 20th January 2021

A Meteor and the Gegenschein

Is the night sky darkest in the direction opposite the Sun? No. In fact, a rarely discernable faint glow known as the gegenschein (German for "counter glow") can be seen 180 degrees around from the Sun in an extremely dark sky. The gegenschein is sunlight back-scattered off small interplanetary dust particles. These dust particles are millimeter sized splinters from asteroids and orbit in the ecliptic plane of the planets. Pictured here from last March is one of the more spectacular pictures of the gegenschein yet taken. The deep exposure of an extremely dark sky over Teide Observatory in Spain's Canary Islands shows the gegenschein as part of extended zodiacal light. Notable background objects include a bright meteor (on the left), the Big Dipper (top right), and Polaris (far right). The meteor nearly points toward Mount Teide, Spain's highest mountain, while the Pyramid solar laboratory is visible on the right. During the day, a phenomenon like the gegenschein called the glory can be seen in reflecting air or clouds opposite the Sun from an airplane.