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Manchester Astronomical Society
Established 1903
Weekly Meetings
Each Thursday we meet in The Godlee Observatory (apart from the Public Lecture evenings and the Christmas/New Year break, when the Observatory will be closed), from about 19:00. Any scheduled talks will start at about 20:00. Weather permitting, we may also observe using the telescopes until as late as people want to stay. If you are interested in coming to any of these meetings please see the visitor information page.
January - April 2019
3rd January - SkyNotes for January
SkyNotes for January
10th January - Informal Evening
There is no scheduled talk for this evening, but the Godlee is open for all your astonomical needs - if you have some question that you would like answered, why not come along and ask it?
17th January - Public Lecture at MMU - The Godlee Observatory is closed this evening
Public Lecture at Manchester Metropolitan University, John Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD commencing at 19:30
See Lectures page for more information24th January - Egyptian Days and Nights - Anthony Jennings
Anthony will give a short talk about his recent trip to Egypt. Includes some daytime and night-time photos, plus his latest camera set-up.
31st January - SkyNotes for February
SkyNotes for February
7th February - Astronomy through the Ages - Graham Hodson
Astronomy through the Ages - from Sumeria and Babylon to X-Rays, Ultra-Violet and Infra-Red, via Isaac Newton
14th February - Clear skies - Observing Evening
An evening observing the night sky from the Godlee
21st February - Public Lecture at MMU - The Godlee Observatory is closed this evening
Public Lecture at Manchester Metropolitan University, John Dalton Building, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD commencing at 19:30
See Lectures page for more information28th February - SkyNotes for March
SkyNotes for March
7th March - VENUS - Orbits, Transits, Exploration and Habitation - Stephen Hurley
VENUS - Orbits, Transits, Exploration and Habitation - Stephen Hurley
14th March - A Beginner's Guide to the Constellations - Phil Swift
A Beginner's Guide to the Constellations - Phil Swift
21st March - Public Lecture at MMU - The Godlee Observatory is closed this evening
Public Lecture at Manchester Metropolitan University, John Dalton Building, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD commencing at 19:30
See Lectures page for more information28th March - SkyNotes for April
SkyNotes for April
4th April - The Sun and Saros - Graham Hodson
The Sun and Saros - Graham Hodson
A brief look at the Sun, Eclipses, and Saros Cycles for Beginners
11th April - Q - Anthony Jennings
18th April - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - MEMBERS ONLY
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - Members ONLY tonight please
The meeting will commence at 8.00 pm prompt
25th April - SkyNotes for May
SkyNotes for May
May - August 2019
2nd May - Astronomy Advice Workshop - Buy it, Build it, or Bodge it?
A look at various pieces of equipment and accessories -
Do you Buy it, Build it, or Bodge it?
What you may (or may not) need for YOUR astronomy...
and How to Use It
9th May - SETI & the Rare Earth Hypothesis - Steve Hurley
SETI & the Rare Earth Hypothesis - Steve Hurley
The talk would cover:
• Overview of the work which has been done on SETI so far
• Outline the rare earth hypothesis
16th May - Registax 6 - Video Tutorials & Discussion
Registax 6 - Video Tutorials & Discussion
23rd May - Eyepieces & Telescopes - A Beginners Guide - Graham Hodson
Eyepieces & Telescopes - A Beginners Guide
30th May - SkyNotes for June
SkyNotes for June
6th June - Informal Evening
Informal Evening
Includes a video about "Cosmic Events" provided by Leonardo Bongalino - Solar Superstorm
13th June - 60 years of NASA, Part 2 - Anthony Jennings
60 Years of NASA, Part 2 - Anthony Jennings
20th June - Cosmic Journeys - Hubble Universe in Motion (Video)
Cosmic Journeys - Hubble Universe in Motion (Video)
27th June - SkyNotes for July
SkyNotes for July
4th July - Sending Messages to Alien Life - Steve Hurley
Sending Messages to Alien Life - Steve Hurley
The talk will cover: Messages sent from Earth out into space, e.g. the Arecibo message and Artefacts from Earth (messages on spacecraft designed to leave the solar system e.g Voyager Golden Record, the Pioneer Plaque)
11th July - Cosmic Journeys - Supermassive Black Hole (Video) + Informal Discussion
Cosmic Journeys - Supermassive Black Hole (Video) + Informal Discussion
Following this 30 minute video, there will be the opportunity for Informal Discussion of Astronomical Topics
18th July - Apollo 11 - The Moon Landing - OPEN DAY AT THE GODLEE
Apollo 11 - The Moon Landing - OPEN DAY AT THE GODLEE
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the first men to set foot on the Moon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin,
explaining "Why did we go to the Moon" and covering various "firsts" that had to be achieved to get there
The Godlee Observatory will be open from 1 pm for tours and a presentation about the Apollo 11 mission
25th July - SkyNotes for August + Video: To the end of Time
SkyNotes for August + Video: To the end of Time
1st August - Dark Matter - Steve Hurley
Dark Matter - The substance which makes up 27% of the mass of the Universe - Steve Hurley
8th August - The Einstein Eclipse - Kevin Kilburn
The Einstein Eclipse - Kevin Kilburn
15th August - Informal Evening - Anything could happen in the next hour
Informal Evening - Anything could happen in the next hour
- from 8pm
There is no 'pre-planned' talk tonight. This is your opportunity to show some of YOUR images, or give a short talk about something that you have an interest in
22nd August - Seeing the Beginning of Time (Video)
Seeing the Beginning of Time (Video)
29th August - SkyNotes for September
SkyNotes for September
Member's Notice Board
Posted: 04 October 2019
Members are reminded that Annual Subscriptions were due on 1st October 2019
Posted: 9 January 2019
Updated: 30 August 2019The MAS has now closed access to this website using the domain manastro.co.uk.
manastro.co.uk will cease existence in January 2020.Posted: 23 July 2018
The MAS website has pages devoted to images of the night sky, as well as the Sun and Moon, and that images may be submitted to the website via e-mail to the webmaster, in addition to posting on the MAS Facebook page.
Details about image submission can be found here.
September - December 2019
5th September - GPS: Past, Present, and Future - Steve Hurley
GPS: Past, Present, and Future - Steve Hurley
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12th September - The Death of Supergiant Stars - Josh McClenaghan
The Death of Supergiant Stars - Josh McClenaghan
19th September - Mars - A Travellers Guide to the Planets (Video)
Mars - A Travellers Guide to the Planets (Video)
26th September - SkyNotes for October - Anthony Jennings
SkyNotes for October
3rd October - Dark Energy - 68% of the Universe - Steve Hurley
Dark Energy - 68% of the Universe - Steve Hurley
Don't forget, Subscriptions were due on 1st October
Some time tonight will be allocated to collection of your Subscription
Note: Payments can now be made online as well as by cash/cheque
10th October - Astronomy - What on Earth are we looking at? (for Beginners)
A Beginner's Guide to: A summary of the terms used by Astronomers, some common pre-conceptions and errors, and their real explanations.
17th October - Public Lecture at MMU - The Godlee Observatory is closed this evening
See the Lectures page for details
24th October - Pick of the Rest
Choose the best of recent images posted on Facebook by NON-Members of the Society. The winning image will be posted to our new Facebook Page Photo Album
31st October - SkyNotes for November
SkyNotes for November
7th November - The Anthropic Principal - Steve Hurley
The Anthropic Principal - Steve Hurley
'At the instant the Omega Point is reached, life will have gained control of all matter and forces not only in a single universe, but in all universes whose existence is logically possible; life will have spread into all spatial regions in all universes which could logically exist, and will have stored an infinite amount of information, including all bits of knowledge which it is logically possible to know. And this is the end’
14th November
21st November - Public Lecture at MMU - The Godlee Observatory is closed this evening
See the Lectures page for details
28th November - SkyNotes for December
SkyNotes for December
5th December
12th December
19th December
26th December - No Meeting Tonight - Christmas / New Year Break
No meeting tonight. The Godlee is closed.
Wishing a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the Whole World
Health & Safety Notice
Safety procedures within the Godlee Observatory are maintained for the safety of members, staff and visitors to the observatory.
All visitors must be accompanied by a warden or a trained society member when entering the Godlee dome.
Please note that due to Health and Safety restrictions, persons under 11 years of age are not allowed to use the spiral staircase nor enter the Godlee dome area (where the telescopes are situated).
The walkway on the outside of the dome is not accessible.
All persons in the Godlee Observatory complex must observe all safety procedures and notices as indicated or advised.
All visitors will receive safety instruction upon arrival.
All group visits must be pre-arranged to ensure there are an appropriate number of trained personnel present; this may require a risk assessment. There is a maximum occupancy of 40 persons; this number includes any MAS personnel required to supervise the group.
Manchester Astronomical Society, Godlee Observatory, Sackville Street Building, University
of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL
Tel: +44 (0) 161 306 4977 (24 Hour Voicemail)