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Wiltshire Astronomical Society Posts

Published 2026-08-09

Partial Solar Eclipse Viewing 2026

The society will be running an outreach event on Wednesday 12th August 2026 for the partial solar eclipse.

UPDATE Tue 11th August. We’ve had it confirmed that the Lacock Abbey National Trust car park google maps link will remain open for use on the Wednesday evening during the event. Please use this car park in the first instance.

The actual observing location is in playing fields adjacent to the Red Lion Pub car park and the Lacock Playground. For the exact spot, see google maps link and what three words address “fortress.majoring.occupations”.

The event starts at 18:00.

As a reminder, never look directly at the Sun, which may cause serious eye damage.

The event will be attended by a number of experienced members of the society with specialist equipment for solar observing but is of course open to the wider public. We have approved eclipse viewers for the public to use, only available on a first come, first served basis, one per family.

This event offers a safe way to experience the wonder of an eclipse, surrounded by other space enthusiasts.

Please come and join us!

Published 2026-06-01

2026 June Update

Next Members Meeting

Next MeetingTuesday 2nd June 2026. Arrive 19:15 for 19:30 start at Pewsham Community Hall (see meetings page)
Speaker(s)Member presentations & AGM*
Jon Gale on Bincocular objects for summer
John Dartnell on My Astro/Atmospherics Photo Album

* Note, we’ll hold a short AGM to cover the accounts and committee selection.

We will continue to use the reoccuring zoom call for those members that cannot join in person. These are the same zoom Zoom meeting details (same URL, ID and passcode for all meetings this year). If you able to attend in person, please do and thank you for your support. If you would like access to the Zoom call, please email (see Contact Page).

Newsletter

Once again thanks to Simon Barnes, our chair, for editing the newsletter and providing our monthly “Report from the Chair” amongst other details about the society and the “Beginners” section this month. Please check it out. If you have any feedback about the newsletter, then we would love to hear it, so get in touch via our contact page.

Download Newsletter

Observing

Thanks again to Chris Brooks, our diligent observing coordinator who has complied this seasons’ observing programme. If you’re a keen observer, Chris would appreciate some support in organising and running the observing evenings, so please reach out to us via our contact page. Download the observing programme below.

Download Observing Schedule

Membership

NOTE. I have paused new sign ups for memberships as we are approaching our off-season (July/August). The membership period will restart in September 2026.

Join/Renew Membership

Mailing List

Please make sure you are subscribed to our mailing list to get the society monthly updates by email and also the observing reminders.

Join Mailing List

Clear skies

Published 2026-05-04

2026 May Update

Next Members Meeting

Next MeetingTuesday 5th May 2026. Arrive 19:15 for 19:30 start at Pewsham Community Hall (see meetings page)
SpeakerKen Whight. Talk “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, How Can I Determine What You Are?”

We will continue to use the reoccuring zoom call for those members that cannot join in person. These are the same zoom Zoom meeting details (same URL, ID and passcode for all meetings this year). If you able to attend in person, please do and thank you for your support. If you would like access to the Zoom call, please email (see Contact Page).

Newsletter

Once again thanks to Simon Barnes, our chair, for editing the newsletter and providing our monthly “Report from the Chair” amongst other details about the society and the “Beginners” section this month. Please check it out. If you have any feedback about the newsletter, then we would love to hear it, so get in touch via our contact page.

Download Newsletter

Observing

Thanks again to Chris Brooks, our diligent observing coordinator who has complied this seasons’ observing programme. If you’re a keen observer, Chris would appreciate some support in organising and running the observing evenings, so please reach out to us via our contact page. Download the observing programme below.

Download Observing Schedule

Membership

Thank you to all the members that have renewed and to those members that have joined the society recently. We really do appreciate your support.

NOTE. I have paused new sign ups for memberships as we are approaching our off-season (July/August). The membership period will restart in September 2026.

Join/Renew Membership

Mailing List

Please make sure you are subscribed to our mailing list to get the society monthly updates by email and also the observing reminders.

Join Mailing List

Clear skies

Published 2026-04-06

2026 April Update

Next Members Meeting

Next MeetingTuesday 7th April 2026. Arrive 19:15 for 19:30 start at Pewsham Community Hall (see meetings page)
SpeakerNicky Fleet. (External) on topic “Extinct Constellations”

We will continue to use the reoccuring zoom call for those members that cannot join in person. These are the same zoom Zoom meeting details (same URL, ID and passcode for all meetings this year). If you able to attend in person, please do and thank you for your support. If you would like access to the Zoom call, please email (see Contact Page).

Newsletter

Once again thanks to Simon Barnes, our chair, for editing the newsletter and providing our monthly “Report from the Chair” amongst other details about the society and the “Beginners” section this month. Please check it out. If you have any feedback about the newsletter, then we would love to hear it, so get in touch via our contact page.

Download Newsletter

Observing

Thanks again to Chris Brooks, our diligent observing coordinator who has complied this seasons’ observing programme. If you’re a keen observer, Chris would appreciate some support in organising and running the observing evenings, so please reach out to us via our contact page. Download the observing programme below.

Download Observing Schedule

Membership

Thank you to all the members that have renewed and to those members that have joined the society recently. We really do appreciate your support.

Join/Renew Membership

Mailing List

Please make sure you are subscribed to our mailing list to get the society monthly updates by email and also the observing reminders.

Join Mailing List

Clear skies

Published 2026-03-02

2026 March Update

Next Members Meeting

Next MeetingTuesday 3rd March 2026. Arrive 19:15 for 19:30 start at Pewsham Community Hall (see meetings page)
SpeakerMark Radice (External) on topic “Observing with Binoculars”

We will continue to use the reoccuring zoom call for those members that cannot join in person. These are the same zoom Zoom meeting details (same URL, ID and passcode for all meetings this year). If you able to attend in person, please do and thank you for your support. If you would like access to the Zoom call, please email (see Contact Page) with sufficient time prior to the meeting.

Newsletter

Once again thanks to Simon Barnes, our chair, for editing the newsletter and providing our monthly “Report from the Chair” amongst other details about the society and the “Beginners” section this month. Please check it out. If you have any feedback about the newsletter, then we would love to hear it, so get in touch via our contact page.

Download Newsletter

Observing

Thanks again to Chris Brooks, our diligent observing coordinator who has complied this seasons’ observing programme. If you’re a keen observer, Chris would appreciate some support in organising and running the observing evenings, so please reach out to us via our contact page. Download the observing programme below.

Download Observing Schedule

Membership

Thank you to all the members that have renewed and to those members that have joined the society recently. We really do appreciate your support.

Join/Renew Membership

Mailing List

Please make sure you are subscribed to our mailing list to get the society monthly updates by email and also the observing reminders.

Join Mailing List

Clear skies

Published 2026-02-02

2026 February Update

Next Members Meeting

Our next scheduled in-person members meeting will be held at the Pewsham Community Hall (see meetings page), on Tuesday 3rd February 2026 at 19:15 for 19:30 start.

This month we we are delighted to have our own member, John Dartnell who will be giving a talk on the upcoming Total Solar Eclipses in Europe over the next 3 years. Please see the newsletter for bio and more info.

We will continue to use the regular zoom call for remote members to join. These are the same zoom meeting details (same URL, ID and passcode for the year). If you able to attend in person, please do and thank you for your support. If you would like access to the Zoom call, please email (see Contact Page).

Newsletter

Once again thanks to Simon Barnes, our chair, for editing the newsletter and providing our monthly “Report from the Chair” amongst other details about the society and the “Beginners” section this month. Please check it out. If you have any feedback about the newsletter, then we would love to hear it, so get in touch via our contact page.

Download Newsletter

Observing

Thanks again to Chris Brooks, our diligent observing coordinator who has complied this seasons’ observing programme. If you’re a keen observer, Chris would appreciate some support in organising and running the observing evenings, so please reach out to us via our contact page. Download the observing programme below.

Download Observing Schedule

Membership

Thank you to all the members that have renewed and to those members that have joined the society recently. We really do appreciate your support.

Join/Renew Membership

Mailing List

Please make sure you are subscribed to our mailing list to get the society monthly updates by email and also the observing reminders.

Join Mailing List

Clear skies

Published 2026-01-04

2026 January Update

Happy New Year wishing clear skies to all for 2026 !

Next Members Meeting

Our next scheduled in-person members meeting will be held at the Pewsham Community Hall (see meetings page), on Tuesday 6th January 2026 at 19:15 for 19:30 start.

This month we are back to our regular external speaker format and we welcome Terry Ransome who will be giving a talk titled “Filton in Space – 65 years and Counting” based on his long experience in the Aerospace sector. Please see the newsletter for bio and more info.

We will continue to use the regular zoom call (same details) for remote members to join. If you able to attend in person, we do urge you to attend in person, thanks for the support. If you would like access to the Zoom call, please email (see Contact Page).

Newsletter

Once again thanks to Simon Barnes, our chair, for editing the newsletter and providing our monthly “Report from the Chair” amongst other details about the society and the “Beginners” section this month. Please check it out. If you have any feedback about the newsletter, then we would love to hear it, so get in touch via our contact page.

Download Newsletter

Observing

Thanks again to Chris Brooks, our diligent observing coordinator who has complied this seasons’ observing programme. If you’re a keen observer, Chris would appreciate some support in organising and running the observing evenings, so please reach out to us via our contact page. Download the observing programme below.

Download Observing Schedule

Membership

Thank you to all the members that have renewed and to those members that have joined the society recently. We really do appreciate your support.

Join/Renew Membership

Mailing List

Please make sure you are subscribed to our mailing list to get the society monthly updates by email and also the observing reminders.

Join Mailing List

Clear skies

Published 2025-12-02

2025 December Update

Next Members Meeting

Our next scheduled in-person members meeting will be held at the (new venue) Pewsham Community Hall (see meetings page), on Tuesday 2nd December 2025 at 19:15 for 19:30 start.

There will be no speaker for this month, as this month we will have some festive fun with a quiz. There is no pressure to get all the answers correct! As well as astronomy/space related questions, there will be general knowledge and trivia thrown in.

Unfortunately, we will also be unable to provide Zoom this month since we are short on volunteers. However, normal service will resume in January.

Newsletter

Once again thanks to Simon Barnes, our chair, for editing the newsletter and providing our monthly “Report from the Chair” amongst other details about the society and the “Beginners” section this month. Please check it out. If you have any feedback about the newsletter, then we would love to hear it, so get in touch via our contact page.

Download Newsletter

Observing

Thanks again to Chris Brooks, our diligent observing coordinator who has complied this seasons’ observing programme. If you’re a keen observer, Chris would appreciate some support in organising and running the observing evenings, so please reach out to us via our contact page. Download the observing programme below.

Download Observing Schedule

Membership

Thank you to all the members that have renewed and to those members that have joined the society recently. We really do appreciate your support.

Join/Renew Membership

Mailing List

Please make sure you are subscribed to our mailing list to get the society monthly updates by email and also the observing reminders.

Join Mailing List

Clear skies

Wiltshire-AS

Published 2025-11-02

2025 November Update

Next Members Meeting

Our next scheduled in-person members meeting will be held at the (new venue) Pewsham Community Hall (see meetings page), on Tuesday 4th November 2025 at 19:15 for 19:30 start. This month we welcome Dr. Peter Allan who will give the talk “Black Holes, Dark Matter and Dark Energy”, see the newsletter for bio and more info.

We will set up a zoom call for remote members to join and hear the speaker. If you able to attend in person, we do urge you to attend in person, thanks for the support. If you would like access to the Zoom call, please email (see Contact Page).

A special shout out to Chris and Tracey for organising the new self-service hot water flasks, these seem to work well at the previous meeting, thanks.

Newsletter

Once again thanks to Simon Barnes, our chair, for editing the newsletter and providing our monthly “Report from the Chair” amongst other details about the society and the “Beginners” section this month. Please check it out. If you have any feedback about the newsletter, then we would love to hear it, so get in touch via our contact page.

Download Newsletter

Observing

Thanks again to Chris Brooks, our diligent observing coordinator who has complied this seasons’ observing programme. If you’re a keen observer, Chris would appreciate some support in organising and running the observing evenings, so please reach out to us via our contact page. Download the observing programme below.

Download Observing Schedule

Membership

Thank you to all the members that have renewed and to those members that have joined the society recently. We really do appreciate your support.

Join/Renew Membership

Mailing List

Please make sure you are subscribed to our mailing list to get the society monthly updates by email and also the observing reminders.

Join Mailing List

Clear skies

Wiltshire-AS

Published 2025-10-06

2025 October Update

Next Members Meeting

We will again be holding an in-person meeting at our new venue at the Pewsham Community Hall (see meetings page), on Tuesday 7th October 2025 at 19:15 for 19:30 start. This month we are delighted to invite Michael F Barratt (FRAS) who will give the talk “The Colourful Lives of Stars”, see the newsletter for more info.

We will set up a zoom call for remote members to join and hear the speaker. If you are in the local area, we do urge you to attend in person, thanks for the support. If you would like access to the Zoom call, please email (see Contact Page).

Newsletter

Once again thanks to Simon Barnes, our chair, for editing the newsletter and providing our monthly “Report from the Chair” amongst other details about the society and the “Beginners” section this month. Please check it out. If you have any feedback about the newsletter, then we would love to hear it, so get in touch via our contact page.

Download Newsletter

Observing

Thanks again to Chris Brooks, our diligent observing coordinator who has complied this seasons’ observing programme. If you’re a keen observer, Chris would appreciate some support in organising and running the observing evenings, so please reach out to us via our contact page. Download the observing programme below.

Download Observing Schedule

Membership

Thank you to all the members that have renewed and to those members that have joined the society recently. We really do appreciate your support.

Join/Renew Membership

Mailing List

Please make sure you are subscribed to our mailing list to get the society monthly updates by email and also the observing reminders.

Join Mailing List

Clear skies

Wiltshire-AS