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Pegasus
Pegasus
The June edition of Pegasus, NAS's monthly newsletter, can be found at the link below:
The June edition of Pegasus, NAS's monthly newsletter, can be found at the link below:
Beginners Magazine
Steve Harris has published a special June edition of the Magazine with plenty of hints and tips for astronomical activities over the summer months. You can get it here:
Forthcoming Meetings
Forthcoming Meetings
For the first Speaker Meeting of the 2025-2026 season, we are delighted to welcome Dr Kate Pattle, a Royal Society University Research Fellow and Proleptic Lecturer in the Astrophysics Group at University College London. She will be speaking on the fascinating topic of Building New Stars in the Milky Way and Beyond, so if you're intrigued by how stars are coming to be born even today, this talk should be for you.
After the break with the obligatory doughnuts, we will then have the usual short talks on a variety of topics, and on that subject we're always looking for new contributions so if you have something you're open to talking about - an observation made, a place visited, a book read, a topic that fascinates you - do reach out to the Communications Lead communications@newburyastro.org.uk and we'll happily sign you up!
Speaker meetings start at 7.30pm and are held at The Fair Close Centre, Newtown Road, Newbury: RG14 7BH. (click here for a map and further details of the session's meetings).
For the first Beginners Meeting of the 2025-2026 season, we will start as always with the highly informative What's Up outlining lots of things to see in the darkening autumn skies. The remaining topics for the evening are expected to include A Beginners Introduction to the Night Sky, Our "Tilted View" of the sky around us, and a primer on how the seasons affect astronomy. If it's clear, we will try a bit of practical astronomy outside the hall so if temperatures are getting cool of an evening, don't forget to bring warm clothes just in case.
Beginners meetings start at 7.00pm and are held at Sutton Hall, Stockcross, Newbury: RG20 8LN. (click here for a map and further details of the session's meetings).
We also offer an ICS Calendar file of all the meetings (main & beginners) of the session to add to your phone or email client. A new one for the 2025 season will be ready shortly and we'll confirm on the website when it is:
Recent meetings:
For slides and other details from recent meetings, head to the Meeting Presentations menu. The latest addition is Steve Harris' excellent presentation on "Where on Earth are we?" from the last Beginners Meeting - quite a journey!
Headlines.....
Headlines.....
Seestar S50 image of the area around Eta Carinae, NGC 3324, captured by the Communications Lead's Seestar but NOT benefitting from SiriL
SeeStar and SiriL evening - Thursday 10th July
SeeStar and SiriL evening - Thursday 10th July
George Sallit will be leading another of his Seestar and Siril workshops at 7.30pm on Thursday 10th July at the Fair Close Centre in Newbury. For all those who have smart scopes and are keen to get the most out of them, these sessions are really useful so are highly recommended. George has given us a summary of what he plans to do this time:
The event will be split into two parts, one dealing with changes to the Seestar system software, including the equatorial routine. The second part will deal with using SiriL to enhance the high-resolution images the Seestar stores. These 16-bit files have far more information than the jpegs. They also make it much easier to get colour from your images.
There have been quite a few updates to the Seestar software, with the equatorial mode being the most anticipated. This has worked well. Polar alignment is now a straightforward process. There are no longer parts of the image lost due to the slow rotation of the image when the scope is run in Altaz mode. Using the equatorial mode gives far more successful images than Altaz. BUT there is still an issue that leads to faint green blotches in stacked equatorial images. I will let you know of a simple dodge to get around that issue.
I will have a copy of the steps described in the various processes and talk through them step by step. Everyone will be given a PowerPoint copy of the talk.
If you are interested, do let George know at outreach@newburyastro.org.uk
Two NAS Stalwarts step down from the Committee
Two NAS Stalwarts step down from the Committee
At the recent AGM, our chairman Paul Gibson announced that two of Newbury Astro's longest serving committee members - Ann Davies and David Boyd - were stepping down after many years of valuable service to the society. Given this is a such a significant milestone, Paul has penned a few words to mark the occasion:
"At our AGM on the 6th June I noted that Ann Davies and David Boyd would be stepping down from the NAS Committee. I did mention how long each had been involved at Committee level for the NAS (Ann as a founder for some 44 years and David for around 37 years!) However, while the length of their help, at various levels from Chair through many other Offices, is commendable, and surely a record, it is their continued enthusiasm for the NAS that enthuses me, and motivates many of our colleagues.
As a Founding Member, Ann has been a solid foundation around which the NAS has been built. Her work with the BAA has also “rubbed off” on the NAS, and she provides a superb link between the NAS and the BAA, for example at Winchester Weekend. Always ready to provide help and advice, Ann is a valuable friend of the Society.
Dr David Boyd (he rarely uses the title) is not only another Member who has held many Officer roles, including Chair, but also provides a close link with the BAA for our NAS. However, he is also a renowned expert in spectroscopic analysis and techniques. David works hard to bring such techniques to the “amateur” realm, both through lectures and mentoring and the development of new equipment, which has accelerated greatly.
That both of these wonderful people, who are excellent examples of collaboration and knowledge, will remain members of the NAS is great news. Their expertise and endless enthusiasm are a great benefit to us all."
I think we can all agree with those sentiments, and Ann and David have our deepest thanks for their contribution over so many years.
Images - Ann Davies receiving Honourary Membership of the society from Paul Gibson at the 2nd Feb 2024 meeting, and David Boyd giving the BAA's George Alcock Lecture earlier this year.
Image of the Planetarium Projector at the South Downs Planetarium
2025 SAGAS Astronomical Convention
2025 SAGAS Astronomical Convention
Summer brings a break in NAS meetings, as well as some very bright night skies that confine observing to late in the evening, but that doesn't mean astronomical events aren't taking place. One such is the SAGAS (Southern Area Group of Astronomical Societies) convention, taking place on Saturday 19th July 2025 at the South Downs Planetarium just outside Chichester. A full day of talks will include topics such as comets, galaxies, an introduction to photometry, and even a glimpse of the night skies in the distant future. All in all it looks like it should make for a great day out.
For more details and to book, check out the event page on the South Downs Planetarium website - UPDATE. NOW SOLD OUT SO IF YOU DON'T ALREADY HAVE A TICKET, DO NOT TRAVEL FOR THE EVENT! https://www.southdowns.org.uk/SAGASAstronomicalConvention.html
Helios at Basildon Park
Helios at Basildon Park
Another event taking place this summer that may be of interest to members is the Helios sun sculpture by Luke Jerram, that is touring a number of National Trust sites this year and that will be at Basildon Park (between Pangbourne and Streatley) from 15 - 18 August and 22 - 25 August. For those that remember the awe-inspiring Moon sculture that visited Newbury a year ago, this promises something similarly impressive. The sculpture is scaled so that each centimetre represents 2,000 kilometres of the real sun's surface, and along with its glowing light, Helios includes a soundscape featuring NASA recordings of the sun, by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson. It is expected to be exhibited outside in the pleasure grounds.
Basildon Park will be open for the exhibition from midday to 10pm (last admission 9pm). Admission charges to Basildon Park apply as per normal. For more details, head to: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/basildon-park/events/fa9d0eca-101f-459c-b3e9-08348d0aa395
Helios art sculpture displayed at Bath Assembly Rooms, Somerset | © National Trust/James Dobson
2025 EU Conference on Amateur Radio Astronomy (EUCARA)
2025 EU Conference on Amateur Radio Astronomy (EUCARA)
This is advance notice that the BAA Radio Astronomy Section and RAL Space are hosting EUCARA on 5th – 7th September 2025 at RAL's Harwell campus in South Oxfordshire. This biannual conference has been running since 2014 but it's the first time it will have happened in the UK, and this is a great opportunity for the UK Amateur Radio Astronomy community to meet each other and our EU friends. The conference will include presentations from academic researchers, local amateurs, and students, and the key note speaker will be Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell of the University of Oxford.
If you are interested in registering (some society members have already signed up), please head to https://eucara.org/
Dark Skies Event - 10th May
Dark Skies Event - 10th May
By all accounts, the Dark Sky event held on Saturday 10th May was a great success. Superby organised by Newbury Astro’s Light Pollution lead Val Russell, it ran all day and into the evening, featuring talks, demonstrations and a huge lineup of solar scopes taking advantage of some excellent weather. Our thanks to everyone who volunteered to help out.
Val is always on the lookout for help in spreading the word about the issues created by Light Pollution and the value of Dark Skies to human health, ecosystems and the climate (as well as our view of the splendours of the heavens) so if you are interested, please do get in touch with her on valrussell@newburyastro.org.uk and she’ll be thrilled to hear from you. Otherwise, for more information on light pollution and why it is such an issue, do check out https://www.darkskiesmatter.org.uk/ and https://www.cpre.org.uk/what-we-care-about/nature-and-landscapes/dark-skies/
Images: Gareth Jarrett, Alan Dowdell
Society visit to the Cody Observatory
Society visit to the Cody Observatory
On Tuesday 18th March more than a dozen of Newbury Astro's finest headed off to Cody Observatory in Farnborough, as guests of Cody Astronomical Society. The observatory was built by the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough in 1966 as part of rocketry projects involving stellar navigation, and houses an unusual 6" (15cm) Carl Zeiss Coudé refractor telescope. It was a great evening, with clear skies allowing the use of the refractor that afforded fine views of Jupiter, but also of other scopes set up outside by members of the Cody society.
There was a full report in the April edition of Pegasus, and our thanks go both to Cody Astronomical Society for such a warm and friendly welcome but particularly to Val and Simon for organising such a great trip.
Outreach - call for volunteers
Outreach - call for volunteers
NAS has a thriving outreach programme as anyone who looks at the Outreach page on the website will know. For much of the year, a major focus is presentations to the likes of Scout, Cub, Brownie and Guide groups, Y3A, Air Cadets and The Parkinson's Society, enthusiastically led by George Sallit, Steve Harris and others. However, with the summer coming the focus is turning to bigger, public events like the Tadley Treacle Fair, Thatcham Fun Day and more. These events can bring hundreds of visitors to the NAS area, and can have a massive and positive impact, spreading the joy of the night (and day) sky to thousands of people. However, they can also be a significant undertaking to ensure that the many people eager to see the Sun through a telescope for the first time (for example) can be catered for whilst allowing members time to have a break, get something to eat etc. As a result, we're always on the lookout for more volunteers to help. Many hands make light work, and you don't need loads of astronomical knowledge to make a real difference. If you can spare any time for any events on the schedule, or are just interested in how you could help, please do let George know at Outreach@newburyastro.org.uk
Some of the society members who helped out at last year's RAL Open Week
Observatory Science Centre Campaign Update
Observatory Science Centre Campaign Update
As members may be aware, the Observatory Science Centre (once the home of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, when it fled the lights and smoke of London for the relative darkness of Sussex) is under threat of closure. The Canadian landlords, Queen’s University, who also own Herstmonceux Castle, are not renewing the Science Centre’s lease, so come the end of the 2026 season the Science Centre will be homeless.
Over the years the science centre have worked tirelessly to fund and restore the site and the telescopes back to their former glory. The centre is a major venue for exhibitions, lectures and educational programmes. The renovated telescopes provide a unique setting for the general public, schools, colleges, and brownie and scout groups to learn about science, space and the world around them.
A number of society members have already signed the petition to try and save the place - if you would like to lend your signature to the campaign, which has already passed 13,000 signatures, you can do so here: https://www.change.org/p/save-the-observatory-science-centre-herstmonceux
Observing Evenings
Observing Evenings
Often the nicest way to enjoy astronomy under a dark sky is with the company of like-minded friends. They can provide reassurance in an unfamiliar dark environment, give you the encouragement to keep going if you are tiring, help you if your kit misbehaves or you are struggling to find an object, or rib you mercilessly if you turn up and forgot your eyepieces (before potentially lending you one of theirs for the evening).
One key finding of the survey NAS conducted in 2023 was that members wanted more opportunities to observe like this as a group, so as a result, NAS are now holding observing nights either coinciding with meteor showers, or on the first clear night roughly around the time of First Quarter moon. Obviously this is the UK, and so we have to contend with the ever-present risk of clouds. As a result, we are using both email and the society WhatsApp group to co-ordinate these events. If you're a NAS member and are interested, but not yet on the WhatsApp group, please reach out to Victoria at secretary@newburyastro.org.uk and we'll get you enrolled.
We have also now added a dedicated page on the website so for more information on when and where these sessions may be held, and what to do, head over to click here
Society telescopes for loan
Society telescopes for loan
The society has a number of telescopes now available for loan to members. An 8" Dobsonian reflector, similar to the one shown on the illustration here, a smaller 6" model, and a 5" refractor, plus the associated eyepieces, star maps etc needed to get it up and running. Our chairman Paul will be talking more about this at the February Speaker meeting, after which members can formally request loan of a telescope. Key points to note:
All users must be paid-up society members
All equipment loaned out must be signed for
Loans will be for a period of 3 or 6 months, with a pre-agreed return date
Loans will take place after a short instruction session at a beginners or observing evening
Hopefully this will prove a great opportunity for members to try their hand with a telescope, helping them better learn the sky and make a more informed decision about their own telescope purchases.
If you can't make the next meeting and would like more information, please contact Paul at chairman@newburyastro.org.uk
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