The wait is finally over: evenings are growing darker, and the summer selection of celestial objects is beginning to appear. Even so, it will be late in the month before Saturn, the first major planet to rise, becomes observable before 22:00hrs BST.

Nevertheless, August should be a busy month (weather permitting), with a selection of dates to add to your calendar. We hope you can join us for some of them.

Whitby Regatta... and the weather this year will be?

Whitby Regatta weekend takes place on 8th, 9th and 10th August, with our usual busy programme across all three days. The main solar observing sessions will be held on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th August on the West Cliff, returning this year to the grassy area near the trampolines and mini go-kart track. An additional solar-viewing session will take place on Monday 10th August from the Grovers Optics stand on the West Cliff.

Mark and Keith will be present from late morning, although the official Regatta programme lists the sessions as 12:30hrs to 16:15hrs. If any WDAS members are able to help, we plan to start setting up from 11:30hrs.

The evening star parties on 8th and 9th August will be held at the Pitch and Putt area, just behind the new skateboard park on the West Cliff. They will begin at 21:30hrs, with setup from 21:00hrs. If conditions are favourable, these events can be busy, so help would be appreciated, especially with logistics and transporting equipment.

Unlike in 2025, moonlight will not interfere with deep-sky observing during the Regatta evening events or the Perseid peak nights, as the Moon will not become troublesome until later in the month.

Will it be typical 'Regatta' weather, or not... we shall see!

Our next West Cliff events are scheduled for Saturday 15th August at the usual Captain Cook headland location, starting at 21:00hrs. A further event will follow at the same time and place on Saturday 22nd, with the event on Friday 28th Aug starting from 20:30hrs.

We now have a date for the Hook’s House Farm Campsite event, located on the B1447 down into Robin Hood’s Bay. It will take place on Saturday 5th September from 20:30hrs, with arrival by 20:00hrs. This event is always well attended, and transport is the usual challenge, so any assistance would be appreciated. It is always an enjoyable evening and one we look forward to each year.

A panoramic view of Robin Hood's Bay from Hook's House. Image - Keith Deason.

(Click for larger view)