Embedded Files
Beginner's meetings are open to all ages and abilities. Come along and hear about what's going on in the sky in the coming month(s) and one or more astronomy talks in layperson's terms. Free refreshments are available during the interval and if the sky is clear we will take telescopes outside for observing.
Meeting Details
Meeting Details
The meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month from September to May, start at 7.00pm sharp and end at 9pm.
We also produce a monthly Beginners’ Magazine which is downloadable here.
2026-2027 Season
Date Topic
Date Topic
16th September 2026 The Autumn Night Sky (What's up)
Catchwords 'Apparent Magnitude' and 'Absolute Magnitude'
How our changing view of the sky works?
How and when can we observe the moon?
21st October 2026 Our Solar System
Catchwords 'Light Grasp' and 'Magnification'
More about - Saturn at 'Opposition' on 04th October
Meteoroids, Meteors, Orionid Meteor Shower Tonight
18th November 2026 The Winter Night Sky (What's Up)
Catchwords 'Lightyear' and 'Parsec'
What is Deep Space?
Earth's Little Sister 'Mercury' (Greatest Westerly Elongation)
16th December 2026 Our tilted view of the Winter Sky (Solstice 21st December)
Catchwords ‘Equatorial Mounting - Dec & RA’
Using a telescope to observe the Planets
Why will our Moon be a ‘Supermoon’ tomorrow?
20th January 2027 The New Year Night Sky (What’s Up)
Catchwords ‘Seeing’ and ‘Transparency’
‘Light’ our Messenger from the Stars
Extracting Information from Starlight
17th February 2027 What is ‘Deep Space’?
Catchwords ‘Dark Adaptation’
How does James Webb see further than Hubble?
Can we see the aftermath of the Big Bang?
17th March 2027 The Spring Night Sky (What’s Up)
Catchwords ‘Averted Vision’
Our Sun and ‘Its tantrums’
How to Observe the Sun Safely
21st April 2027 Our Moon and its History
Catchwords ‘Transition’, ‘Occultation’ and ‘Conjunction’
How can we see more than the Visible Half of the Moon?
Observing the Moon Using a Telescope
19th May 2027 The Summer Night Sky (What’s Up)
Catchwords ‘Dark Sky’, ‘Twilight’, ‘Dusk’ and ‘Dawn’
Observing during the Summer (The Moon and the Sun)
Noctilucent Clouds (Night Clouds)
2025-2026 Season
Date Topic
Date Topic
17th September 2025 Beginners Introduction to the Night Sky, Using Star Charts, and Q&A
15th October 2025 Latest Developments in Astro Imaging, Our Place in the Universe
19th November 2025 Our Sun, Why do some stars go "Bang"?
17th December 2025 The Dark Side of the Moon, The Star of Bethlehem
21st January 2026 Observing Planets & Moons, Asteroids Comets and Meteors
18th February 2026 What are Deep Sky Objects? Observing Star Clusters
18th March 2026 Orion and his Dogs, Nebulae
15th April 2026 Variable Stars, Star charts and Planetarium Software
20th May 2026 Safe Solar Observing, Noctilucent Clouds
2024-2025 Season
Date Topic
Date Topic
18th September 2024 The birth & early life of a star - Observing Saturn
16th October 2024 Our Moon and its effect on our seas - Recent solar and summer observations
20th November 2024 What Colour is the Sun, A First Telescope for Christmas, and What do we need a telescope to see?
18th December 2024 The Drake Equation, Observing the Moon, and Observing the Planets in the Winter Sky
15th January 2025 How Do White Dwarf stars go BANG, The Size of the Universe, and How to set up and use your telescope
19st February 2025 Our Place in the Universe and Observing Mercury
19th March 2025 Deadly Asteroids, Gravity Assisted Space Travel, and Imaging with a Digital Imager
16th April 2025 How our star (The Sun) will die, Our Local Group of Galaxies, and Origin of the Constellations
21st May 2025 Astronomy and things to see over the summer, Solar Observing "Safely" and Observing the ISS
We also offer an ICS Calendar file of all the meetings (main & beginners) of the session to add to your phone or email client. A new one for the 2026-2027 season can now be downloaded here
Full annual membership of £30 covers entry to both main speaker meetings and beginners’ meetings, but casual visitors are welcome. To cover our costs there is a visitor fee of £3 per meeting - which includes refreshments during the break.
For more information, please browse around the website or email: contact@newburyastro.org.uk
You can follow us on X – @newburyastro – and we are Newbury Astronomical Society on Facebook – so give us a like!
Beginners meetings are held in the Stockcross Village Hall (Sutton Hall); post code: RG20 8LN. There is free parking on site. Click here for a map. The talks are aimed at beginners of all ages and anyone is welcome to attend, all you need is an interest in astronomy. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please dress warmly for the observing, especially during the winter months!
Page updated
Report abuse