Society meetings have now recommenced for the autumn/winter/spring period.  The venue is Caedmon College - Normanby Campus (formerly Whitby College) - room H1 starting from 7:30pm.

Following society member Phil Richard's excellent presentation on his superb restoration of the Watson Refractor at the December meeting, Richard Darn will be our guest speaker for the January meeting on the 9th.  Society members Barbara and Mark Gratton have, through their volunteer work with citizen scientists, been able to secure Richard who will be giving a presentation on ‘North York Moors Dark Night Survey’, the results of which underpinned the successful bid by the North York Moors Parks Authority to push for Dark Sky Reserve status.  It should be a fascinating evening and a good turn out from society members (and friends) would be appreciated.

If you are new to the area and would like to join the society or have become interested in the night sky and want to take 'one small step', please do come along, you will be very welcome. 

Meetings normally follow the format of a revue of the night sky that month, upcoming celestial events, coupled with a talk or presentation on astronomical aspects or associated with space. Meetings end by 9:25pm at latest, although usually it's around 9:15pm.   

The monthly meeting in February is on the 6th.

Open Nights 

Sunday evening open nights at the Bruce Observatory continue, reverting to a 7pm start time from January. Open nights are on paper, every Sunday (barring one or two exceptions) until well into April.  They are weather dependant, so if you are intending on coming along, please contact Mark on the day, the conditions at Whitby can be very different to inland, or further up or down the coast!  The observatory (the conical domed building) is also located at the Normanby Campus, at the bottom of the drive.  

For anyone wishing to come along, please be at the College top carpark for 7pm if possible as the security gate for the drive is operated via keycode and closes automatically after being opened.  Only the 'guardians of the gate' have the code.  Anyone arriving later will need to attract our attention within the observatory (flash car lights, pip horn, or shout). We will notice. January dates are 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th.