Embedded Files
Pegasus
Pegasus
The February 2026 edition of Pegasus, NAS's monthly newsletter, can be found at the link below:
The February 2026 edition of Pegasus, NAS's monthly newsletter, can be found at the link below:
Beginners Magazine
The latest (February 2026) edition of Steve Harris' magazine is now available - to have a browse, click here:
Forthcoming Meetings
Forthcoming Meetings
Join us for a friendly beginner's astronomy meeting where curiosity meets the night sky! We’ll explore the fascinating world of Deep Sky Objects, such as nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters, and learn what makes them so special and how astronomers observe them. After a short break with our usual doughnuts with coffee and tea. With the second half of the evening, we’ll will be kicking off with more entries for the 5-in-5 short presentation competition. This will be followed by a talk on how to spot and appreciate star clusters, from loose open clusters to densely packed globular clusters, and understand what they can tell us about the life cycle of stars. We’ll wrap up with a brief Q&A, giving you the chance to explore any astronomy questions on your mind. If conditions allow, we’ll try some practical astronomy outdoors, so don’t forget to bring something warm. No prior experience is needed, just bring your enthusiasm and sense of wonder, we’d love to see you there!
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).
Join us for an engaging and hands-on evening all about telescopes! This session will feature a series of short, informal talks covering how to buy, assemble, and use telescopes, alongside practical demonstrations to help bring everything to life. You’re very welcome to bring your own telescope if you’d like specific advice or help getting the most out of it. If the weather is kind and skies are clear, we’ll also try to take a look at Jupiter, using it as a live example to demonstrate observing techniques. Whether you’re completely new to telescopes or looking to improve your skills, this will be a relaxed, welcoming evening with plenty of opportunities to ask questions and learn. Free to attend, with a suggested £1 donation per attendee. We hope to see you there! Refreshments will be available.
The meeting will start at 7.00pm and will be held in the Rear Lounge at The Fair Close Centre, Newtown Road, Newbury: RG14 7BH. For this meeting, DO NOT enter via the front doors as per a normal speaker meeting, but head around to the right of the building where you will find the rear doors. If you are planning to bring your telescope, limited parking will be found to the back right of the building, near the rear doors, so you have less distance to lug your scope! See image:
For our March Speaker Meeting, we are delighted to be welcoming the self described "Professional Space Nerd" Dr Jennifer (Jen) Gupta, Professor of Astronomy Public Engagement at the University of Portsmouth. Jen did her PhD at Jodrell Bank, working on Active Galactic Nuclei, so we suspect her topic for this evening - "The Invisible Universe" - may include radio astronomy at some point! Whatever it touches on, though, given her frequent TV and radio work and indeed side-hussle as a stand up comedian, this looks likely to be a terrific talk. Definitely one not to miss!
After the break with the obligatory doughnuts, we will then have the usual short talks on a variety of topics. The meeting will start at 7.30pm and will be held at The Fair Close Centre, Newtown Road, Newbury: RG14 7BH. (click here for a map and further details of the session's meetings).
We also offer an IC 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.....
Dr Allan Chapman FRAS - 30 May 1946 – 21 January 2026
As many members will already be aware, we recently learned of the sad passing of Dr Allan Chapman, the erudite and learned historian of science, author and biographer, TV presenter and Vice President of Newbury AS. Allan was a great friend to many members and will be sorely missed. Our chairman, Paul Gibson, has penned this short tribute:
“Friends, it is with great regret that we must note the passing of the celebrated historian of science, Dr. Allan Chapman. The Newbury Astronomical Society enjoyed a long friendship with Allan and his wife Rachel, as did many of our members. Together with Dr. Patrick Moore, Allan became a joint Vice President in 1992, becoming our sole Vice President on Patrick’s death in 2012.
While a consummate and lauded academic, Allan was a very approachable and friendly fellow and a close friend of many NAS members. He delivered terrific and enthralling after-dinner talks at our NAS Christmas Dinners, from which members will remember him, as well as from his frequent and deeply researched contributions to many astronomical journals and publications.
These pictures capture his humour and engaging personality, and he will be sorely missed.”
UPDATE - Allan's funeral will be taking place at Christ Church Cathedral, St Aldate's, Oxford, OX1 0DP, on Tuesday 3 March at 2pm. There will be light refreshments in the Cathedral afterwards. Parking will be available in the Broad Walk on Christ Church premises until 5.00 pm on the day of the funeral (entrance is just past the College on St Aldate's).
His family have requested no flowers, please. Anyone who would like to make a charitable donation in Allan's memory is invited to donate to the Oxford Hospitals Charity (https://www.hospitalcharity.co.uk). Donations may be made online or by telephone.
Photo taken from BAA forum
Allan giving one of his famous talks - to obvious mirth - at the 2023 NAS Christmas Meal.
Update - New NAS Membership Form
Update - New NAS Membership Form
This week, the NAS has released a new version online form that in future will be used for all renewals. As this is rolled out, we are asking all members who have already filled out the old-style forms to complete the new style form here:
The new form only takes a couple of minutes to complete, and will allow us to get our new membership lists up to date, so thanks to everyone who completes the form. If anyone has issues with the new form, help will be at hand at forthcoming NAS meetings so we can ensure everyone is signed up OK! However, if you do have questions, please reach out to our new Membership Secretary Val at valrussell@newburyastro.org.uk or membership@newburyastro.org.uk
The BAA Deep Sky Section Meeting 28 March 2026
The BAA Deep Sky Section Meeting 28 March 2026
The BAA Deep Sky Section is delighted to announce its annual meeting, taking place on Friday 28 March, from 10:00am to 5:00pm, at Dean Close Preparatory School, Cheltenham. This full-day event is open to everyone, whether or not you are a BAA member, and is a fantastic opportunity for anyone with an interest in deep sky observing and imaging. Talks will include Imaging Obsession, Observing the Virgo Cluster, Adventures in Auriga, A Gloucester Observatory, The Andromeda Galaxy, Planetary Nebulae. Trade Stands: Society for the History of Astronomy (book sales) Webb Deep-Sky Society
Cost of £20 for non-members and £15 for BAA members (includes lunch and refreshments):
Booking information:
Advance booking is required, and bookings close on 15 March.
For full details and to secure your place, please visit:
https://britastro.org/event/deep-sky-section-meeting-2026
If you love deep sky objects, this promises to be an engaging and enjoyable day of talks, discussion, and networking with fellow enthusiasts. We look forward to seeing you there!
UK Physics & Astronomy Funding Crisis
As many members may have heard, there is a serious crisis brewing in UK professional science funding, especially impacting physics and astronomy. A couple of articles giving context are here:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00346-w
In response, Professor Mike Lockwood, Professor of Space Environment Physics at the University of Reading and the president of the Royal Astronomical Society, has forwarded this letter (distributed via the Federation of Astronomical Societies, of which NAS is a member) that everyone may wish to read. If after reading this and related media articles you want to take action yourself, a link to the template letter to your MP is in the email below:
Dear Fellow,
As you will be aware, astronomy and space science currently face unprecedented cuts. The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) advised researchers that resource grants for this area are likely to be subject to a 30% budget reduction, and project teams are being asked to plan for anything up to 60% cuts.
These arise from a longstanding structural issue within STFC, where the costs of facilities and international subscriptions are tensioned against astronomy, and particle and nuclear physics. As those costs rise, our science is hit particularly hard, unlike the disciplines supported by any other research council.
The RAS is doing everything possible to persuade the Government and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to act to reverse the cuts and the damage they will inflict on our sciences. We have put out public statements, are engaging with journalists, will be working with politicians to ask questions in Parliament, and are of course collaborating with our sister organisation the Institute of Physics.
We really need your help too. We would like all our UK Fellows to contact their MP to seek their support in persuading the Government to change course. We have a template letter to make that easier - one we hope you will adapt to reflect your personal engagement with astronomy and space science.
I do hope that we can count on your support for our efforts, in seeking to mitigate one of the most serious crises for our science in modern times.
Professor Mike Lockwood
President of the Royal Astronomical Society
BAA Winchester Weekend 2026
BAA Winchester Weekend 2026
Join us in celebrating the BAA’s 60th anniversary of the first “residential weekend course,” established by Alfred Curtis in 1967 to provide guidance in the observational side of astronomy. For the 2026 event, we will return to Alfred’s original vision by placing practical observing at the heart of the weekend, complemented by talks from many well-known amateur astronomers.
Bookings are restricted to BAA members only, and opens at 9am on Tuesday 6th January and closes on Friday 13th March. Please note that tickets for this event frequently sell out, so early booking is advised.
The full weekend ticket, which includes two nights’ accommodation and all meals, is £315 per person. Tickets can be booked from the BAA website
The current programme for the weekend is available from the BAA website
Check-in on Friday 10th April will be available from 3pm.
The Exhibition area will once again host a bring-and-buy table, and attendees are welcome to bring along any equipment they wish to sell.
Weather permitting, there will be opportunities for observing on both Friday and Saturday evenings. Participants are encouraged to bring their own telescopes and equipment to fully enjoy the experience. We hope to see you there..
Past Winchester weekend group photo. Photo credit: BAA website
New!!! Seestar Tutorial Page
New!!! Seestar Tutorial Page
Visit our newly launched tutorial section for Seestar user support. Follow the link to access the full collection. Seestar Tutorials
The NAS Christmas Meal Update
The NAS Christmas Meal Update
We had our last event of the year – the NAS Christmas Meal.
We hope everyone is now feeling suitably festive, especially those members who attended last Friday’s NAS Christmas Meal. A wonderful time was enjoyed by all, with several impeccably dapper outfits making an appearance and plenty of smiles all around. The room was filled with laughter, festive cheer, and great company, making it a truly memorable way to round off the year.
Firstly, we would like to thank Victoria for putting together a fantastic evening packed with fun quizzes, jolly music, and beautifully organised seating and table arrangements. From start to finish, everything ran seamlessly, and she truly did a remarkable job.
We would also like to thank everyone who joined us for the evening – without you, events like this simply wouldn’t be possible. It was lovely to see so many people coming together, chatting, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company. The food was really good, and the bar was well stocked with refreshing drinks, which only added to the festive atmosphere and kept the celebrations going.
Overall, it was a joyful evening and a nice way to celebrate the end of another year together.
Paul proudly showcases his new fingerless gloves as he delivers a heartfelt thank-you speech.
Anyone interested in any of these fingerless gloves, please get in touch with Victoria.
The Tenacious Committee has experienced the resignation of another member.
The Tenacious Committee has experienced the resignation of another member.
As announced at the last Main Meeting and our Christmas Dinner, we are sad to say that Alan Wyles, our Membership Secretary for many years, is stepping back from this role. Alan has been the welcoming face of the NAS for many newcomers, as well as a contributing Committee Member. He will still be joining us at most Main Meetings, I understand, while also now being able to spend more time involved with his first academic “love”, of physics.
Kind wishes to Alan and Mary, and we hope to see you soon.
Alan’s role has been passed to Val Russell. I am sure we will all be hearing from her in this capacity very soon!
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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