Embedded Files
Pegasus
Pegasus
The October edition of Pegasus, NAS's monthly newsletter, can be found at the link below:
The October edition of Pegasus, NAS's monthly newsletter, can be found at the link below:
Beginners Magazine
The latest (September 2025) edition of Steve Harris' magazine has just hit the website - to have a browse, click here:
Forthcoming Meetings
Forthcoming Meetings
For the next Speaker Meeting, we are delighted to be welcoming Dr Catherine Regan of the University of West Virginia who will be speaking on The History and Future of Mars Exploration - a subject on which she is hugely qualified to speak as her current work has used data from both NASA's MAVEN mission and Europe's Mars Express, for which she is on the science team for the ASPERA-3 instrument. She is also on the science team for the PanCAM instrument on ESA's upcoming Mars rover, Rosalind Franklin, which is due to launch in 2028. If that's not enough, she also co-led the Eyes on Mars outreach initiative from 2021-2024 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGwn58mXtSCGFznenuFPSrw
Previously based at Mullard Space Science Lab back here in Blighty, her new location in West Virginia means she will be presenting remotely on this occasion!
After the break with the obligatory doughnuts, we will then have the usual short talks on a variety of topics as well as the next round in the 5-in-5 competition. If, after the successful first run at our last meeting you fancy giving 5-in 5 a go, please do reach out to Victoria at secretary@newburyastro.org.uk and she'll take you through how it works.
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 our next Beginners Meeting, we will start as always with the highly informative What's Up outlining lots of things to see in the darkening autumn skies. After that, we'll be looking out into the distant universe, with a primer on galaxies - what are they, and how did they form - as well as our place in that enormous universe. Time permitting, we'll also look at how we measure distances across the universe and more entries in the 5-in-5 short presentation competition. If it's clear, we will also try a bit of practical astronomy outside the hall so 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. The new one for 2025-2026 can be downloaded here.
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.....
Members of Newbury Astro and Thatcham Photographic Club set up and ready for the eclipse at Stockcross Recreation Ground - photo credit, Tony Hersh
Total Lunar Eclipse - Sunday 7th September
Total Lunar Eclipse - Sunday 7th September
Sunday 7th September saw the Moon rise whilst in eclipse - and whilst lunar eclipses are never as stunning as a solar eclipse, they are still a wonderful sight to see.
Knowing this was something not to be missed, and with a rising eclipsed Moon potentially providing some great images, The Thatcham Photographic Club joined with Newbury Astronomical Society for a joint observing session from Stockcross Recreation Ground. Despite plenty of cloud around, it fortunately cleared just as the moon cleared the horizon affording those present a great view.
Once the event was over, many of those attending headed back to Stockcross Village Hall for refreshments, and overall a good time was had by all. Our thanks to Steve Harris for putting together a successful evening - our hope is he can arrange for the clouds to part for future observing events too!
2025 EU Conference on Amateur Radio Astronomy (EUCARA)
2025 EU Conference on Amateur Radio Astronomy (EUCARA)
Also on the weekend of the 5th - 7th September saw the EUCARA conference, hosted by the BAA Radio Astronomy Section and RAL Space at RAL's Harwell campus in South Oxfordshire. This biannual conference has been running since 2014 but it was the first time it has taken place in the UK, presenting a great opportunity for the UK Amateur Radio Astronomy community to meet each other and our EU friends. The conference included presentations from academic researchers, amateurs, and students, and featured Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell (the discoverer of Pulsars) who was speaking straight after our very own Steve Mullaly.
A full article on the event will be in the next copy of Pegasus.
Steve Mullaly with an admirer whose talk followed his - Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell. Photo credit: Steve Mullaly
Credit: NASA, Greg Bacon STScI
A Universe of Black Holes
A Universe of Black Holes
We are lucky to live close to places like Oxford and the RAL as they can be a regular source of interesting astronomical events and talks. The next such talk is on Tuesday 14th October when the 30th Hintze Lecture in Oxford will see Professor Janna Levin of Columbia University and Nobel prizewinner Professor Roger Penrose talking about A Universe of Black Holes.
The lecture will take place at the Martin Wood Lecture Theatre on Parks Road, starting at 5pm, is free to attend and will also be broadcast on Zoom, so if you're interested (it looks like a contingent from NAS will be aiming to go) there is more detail at https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/events/30th-hintze-lecture-professor-janna-levin-professor-sir-roger-penrose
Forthcoming FAS webinars
Forthcoming FAS webinars
Newbury Astro is a member of the FAS, and in October and November there will be two great webinars that NAS members can attend at a reduced rate.
The first webinar, on Saturday October 25th, is on The Search for Planet 9 and is given by Mike Brown, professor of planetary astronomy at Caltech. Mike is a major proponent of the idea of a Planet 9 being out there - one of significant size, between that of Earth and Neptune. So it should be an absolutely fascinating talk.
The second webinar is on Saturday 15th November, and the topic is the New Horizons probe and the exploration of Pluto. This time the speaker is the legendary Alan Stern, who was principal investigator on the New Horizons probe to Pluto.
NAS members will shortly be sent a code that will give reduced price access to both webinars. For more details on the webinars, visit https://fedastro.org.uk/fas/webinars-on-pluto-and-dwarf-planets/ and to book, head over to https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/fas-webinars-on-pluto-and-dwarf-planets-4646773
Observatory Science Centre update - OSC Saved?
Observatory Science Centre update - OSC Saved?
As many members were aware, the Observatory Science Centre at Herstmonceux in Sussex (once the home of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, when it fled the lights and smoke of London for the relative darkness of the Sussex countryside) stood under threat of closure. The landlords, Bader College (the UK wing of Canada's Queen’s University, who also own Herstmonceux Castle), had decided not to renew the Science Centre’s lease, so come the end of the 2026 season the Science Centre looked like it would be homeless.
In what appears to be a piece of great news, a deal appears to have been reached which guarantees the future of the Observatory Science Centre for a further ten years. A press release states that 'together Bader College and Science Projects aim to unlock The Observatory Science Centre’s full potential to inspire future generations through science, history, and discovery.' Abbie Rumbold, Chief Executive of Science Projects, said 'We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to The Observatory Science Centre for many years to come and are so excited about the opportunity to develop fantastic new visitor experiences. Our incredible team is ready to make the next decade and The OSC’s fourth, our most fun yet '
Time for a NAS trip to the OSC, maybe?
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.
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
Some of the society members who helped out at last year's RAL Open Week
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, but there are also bigger events such as the Thatcham Festival on the Green, and the Discovery Centre Observing Evening. These events can bring hundreds of visitors, especially if the weather plays ball, 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, or the Orion Nebula, for the first time 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
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