Date

Event

Location

RGC (Stevenson Lecture Theatre), Aberdeen, 7 pm 
(Directions to RGC)
 

RGC (Stevenson Lecture Theatre), Aberdeen, 7 pm 
(Directions to RGC)
 
Meeting Outline :
1) The celestial coordinate system (it's not as hard as it sounds!)
2) A beginners guidance on telescopes, pros and cons, etc.
3) Estimating star magnitudes, a simple guide, and a test for you all to work on at home! 
4) The main things to see in the night sky in Oct to Dec. 
5) A basic starter in night sky photography - images you can easily take for yourself.
6) Q and A, - all those hard questions you have been meaning to ask!

RGC (Stevenson Lecture Theatre), Aberdeen, 7 pm 
(Directions to RGC)
 
This will be a fascinating talk by a leading expert in the field, well known for his ability to make leading edge science understandable to everyone - and in this case, it really is cutting edge astronomy!

RGC (Stevenson Lecture Theatre), Aberdeen, 7 pm 
(Directions to RGC)
 
Quantum gravity and general relativity are the two foundations of modern physics. Recent Nobel Prize winning work on gravitational waves and black holes confirm general relativity as the best theory of gravity. This talk explores how gravitational waves are opening up a new approach to helping solving the mystery of quantum gravity. 

This talk is opportune, given the talk we had in November fron Prof. Martin Hendry of Glasgow University on gravitational waves. Both Martin's work and that of Charles Wang are some of the most exciting work being done currently in astronomy. 

Zoom Only Meeting
 
Hamish's research focuses on understanding the rapid acceleration & expulsion of near relativistic electrons from the Sun. 

Note that this is a Zoom Only Meeting

RGC (Stevenson Lecture Theatre), Aberdeen, 7 pm 
(Directions to RGC)
 
Is the solar system stable? 
Will the planets elliptical orbits eventually come undone? 

This talk will explore these topical issues! 

Date

Event

Location

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) and limited to AAS members only.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm)

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) and limited to AAS members only.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm)

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) and limited to AAS members only.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm)

NOTE : Change in date/day to Thursday 8th December 
 

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) and limited to AAS members only.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm)

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) and limited to AAS members only.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm).
 

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) to members.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm).
 

RGC (Stevenson Lecture Theatre), Aberdeen, 7 pm 
(Directions to RGC)

This meeting will be held in-person at RGC and via Zoom.
 (7:00 to 9:00pm).
 

Online Meeting, 7:30 pm 

This meeting will be via Zoom (only)
 (7:30 to 9:30pm).
 
Data from satellites is changing the way we perceive natural environment and life on Earth. From protection of wildlife, mapping the climate change or disaster relief, remote sensing from space is enabling us to monitor most of Earth’s surface in near real-time allowing for a very different perspective on our planet and the global consequences of local actions. In this talk, we will examine some of the main trends in Earth Observation, as well as showcase many of the local players in the global Space Data industry – where Scotland punches far above its weight in shaping the future of our (trans)planetary ecology.  

Dr Matjaz Vidmar is Lecturer in Engineering Management at the University of Edinburgh and Deputy Director of the Institute for the Study of Science, Technology and Innovation. He is researching innovation processes, R&D (eco)systems and futures strategies and design, especially within the space industry, artificial intelligence and data-driven economy. He leads interdisciplinary projects spanning arts, science and civil society, he is involved in several start-up companies, and he delivers an extensive public engagement programme. More at www.blogs.ed.ac.uk/vidmar

RGC (Stevenson Lecture Theatre), Aberdeen, 7 pm 
(Directions to RGC)

This meeting will be held in-person at RGC and via Zoom.
 (7:00 to 9:00pm).
 
Note:  Start at 7:00 pm prompt  (to allow our speaker to catch a return train)

RGC (Stevenson Lecture Theatre), Aberdeen, 7 pm 
(Directions to RGC)

Important Change:  This meeting is now 'Zoom' Only.
 (7:00 to 9:00pm).
 

Date

Event

Location

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) and limited to AAS members only.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm)

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) and limited to AAS members only.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm)

NB. Anyone is welcome to become a member, please see our contact page for details.

(note change in start time)

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) and limited to AAS members only.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm)

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) and limited to AAS members only.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm)

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) and limited to AAS members only.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm)

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) and limited to AAS members only.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm)

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) and limited to AAS members only.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm)

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) and limited to AAS members only.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm)

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) and limited to AAS members only.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm)

This talk is all about how the Victorians perceived the night sky with a string of bright comets causing a great sensation.

This meeting will be held online (Zoom) and limited to AAS members only.  
 (7:30 to 9:30pm)

Date

Event

Location

Due to the Coronavirus situation this meeting will be held online and limited to AAS members only. Anyone is welcome to become a member, please see our contact page for details.

Due to the Coronavirus situation this meeting will be held online and limited to AAS members only. Anyone is welcome to become a member, please see our contact page for details.

The talk will be by an external speaker, Colin Stuart, who will speak on the fascinating topic of "how to weigh the universe". 
 
Due to the Coronavirus situation this meeting will be held online and limited to AAS members only. Anyone is welcome to become a member, please see our contact page for details.

Date

Event

Location

Join us for this fascinating talk celebrating this year’s fiftieth anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, as well as the formation of AAS. Join University of Glasgow astronomer Martin Hendry on a voyage of discovery as he explores the science and technology behind Neil Armstrong’s giant leap for humankind. And if you’ve ever wondered about the (surprisingly persistent) claims that the Moon landings were faked, prepare for some debunking fun as Martin casts a critical eye over the most popular conspiracy theories – before looking ahead to the exciting future for human space exploration.

Join us for this Part 2 of this talk looking at 

'How historical human factors combined with astronomical cycles to become the calendars we use today'   

(Note: Part 1 was presented to AAS on 2019-Apr-16)

Join us for this talk about the James Webb Space Telescope

Join us for our annual Christmas Quiz night.
In a slight change to tradition this year's quiz master will be Rhona,  who will nevertheless still try to outwit us with a scattering of fiendishly quirky questions!"

If you can bring along an item of food/drink to share that would be great.

Mainly aimed at new members and the public but everyone welcome: 

- Introduction to the night sky
- Choosing a telescope
- Solar observing
- What's in the Aberdeenshire sky this year

Come along for a chat and share your knowledge and experience.

This is the story about building a ELF-ULF-VLF receiver to detect magnetic waves set up by transient luminous phenomena. Includes receiving a magnetic transmission from the UNESCO Industrial Heritage ULF Mechanical Transmitter at Grimeton in Sweden and an expedition to record Schumann Resonances in Aberdeenshire.

After a brief recap of what gravity is, this talk will look at how our deep understanding of it allows space craft to undergo gravity assist manoeuvre and utilise Lagrange points

+ Others TBC

Date

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Location

Several thousand extrasolar planets have been detected in the last two decades, spanning a wide range of masses and separations. As new types of planets become accessible, they pose new challenges to the theoretical models trying to explain their formation. In this talk Dr. Bonavita gives an overview of the state of the art of the Direct Imaging exoplanet research, and the constraints that the current data set can help put on our knowledge of the planet formation mechanisms.

Date

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Location

Tim stood in for Mariangela Bonavita (Institute of Astronomy, University of Edinburgh) who was unable to present the originally advertised talk.

Tim stood in for Olivia Johnson from the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh who was unable to present the originally advertised talk about James Webb Space Telescope. We hope to be able to get talk rearranged for the 2018/19 season.

Date

Event

Location

Light always travels in straight lines. But mass distorts the fabric of space itself, allowing light to appear to bend around massive objects. This talk will look at how tiny deviations of light over cosmic scales can be used to probe otherwise invisible mass in the dark universe.

Meeting not held due to bad weather (cloud)

Discusses what galaxies are, what different types of galaxies there are, how galaxies get shaped through their environment, and modern research including the MaNGA survey

Patrick's main areas of interest and expertise include the use of gravity to aid space travel, different types of space vehicles and the equipment used to collect samples during missions with landers. 

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Preceded by a public meteorite handling session from 6 pm 

Dr Paul Roche is the Astrophysics Programme Coordinator at Cardiff University, the UK National Schools’ Astronomer and Director of the Faulkes Telescopes Project. He has spent over 25 years researching the most massive stars in the galaxy, and weighing neutron stars and black holes. 

What killed the dinosaurs, and should we be worried about going the same way? Astronomers regularly discover huge lumps of rock/metal (asteroids) and ice (comets) hurtling past the Earth. If any of them were to actually hit us, the consequences would be terrifying - tidal waves hundreds of metres high, massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and disruption of the atmosphere, with dramatic consequences for all life on Earth. Geological evidence suggests that such massive impacts have had a significant effect on the evolution of life in the past. This talk examines what we know about the threat of impacts from space, the role they have played in the evolution of our Solar system, and in particular the contributions that amateurs and schools have made using the Faulkes Telescopes Project facilities.

Dr William Taylor is an instrument scientist at the UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh working on instruments for telescopes both on the ground and in space. William’s area of research is massive stars.

David is author of several books about NASA/Apollo mission to the moon, the Lunar Lander & the Gemini spacecraft

Nearly half a century ago, 24 men travelled to the Moon and 12 landed on its surface. David Woods describes the techniques that were employed to get them across the vast distance between Earth and the Moon, land on its dusty terrain and safely return, a journey no one has made for 43 years.
http://www.hafttm.com 

David will bring along copies of the three books that he has authored. There's absolutely no problem if any members already have copies of his books and would like him to sign them.

Aberdeen Science Centre and Aberdeen Astronomical Society have teamed up for a FREE evening under the stars! On Friday the 22nd, come to Aberdeen Science Centre to explore the night sky & unveil the mysteries of the moon!.  Details at http://aberdeensciencecentre.org/events/stargazing-winter-watch/

This will be a talk on historic astronomy texts, plus the chance to look at a selection of rare and historic texts held by the university. Aberdeen university hold a significant collection of such rare books and documents, so this should be a great 'end of season' finale. 

Date

Event

Location

On the morning of Friday 20th March 2015 from places such as the Faroe Islands there will be a total solar eclipse when the moon passes in front of the sun's disk. From the UK it will actually appear as a partial solar eclipse. Aberdeen will see around 93% coverage at maximum eclipse,  weather permitting, with first and final contacts forecast at 08:33 and 10:46 respectively.

Robert Gordon's College are hosting a series of pupil and public talks during the eclipse from 8:50 to 10:00 am at Schoolhill.

These will be a mixing of live commentary and observations (from a H-alpha telescope mounted on top of one of the school buildings) with a short physics lecture (about how eclipse observations gave the first experimental evidence for Einstein's theory of General Relativity). Talks will be followed by tea/coffee and Q&A session in the foyer of the Craig Centre for Performing Arts.

Please note there is no car parking available at the School for this event - please use nearby public car parks instead.

More details about event   (directions to RGC) 

Date

Event

Location

As part of World Space Week 4, Satrosphere has Dr Alan Penny from St Andrews University giving a presentation aimed at adult audiences on SETI

AAS members will be on hand with information and telescopes set up for some street based astronomy if the weather is clear. There will also be some space related art on display as part of a project for World Space week.

Stargazing Live returns to BBC Two for 3 nights from 7th January 2014 and the BBC are encouraging astronomy clubs across the country to get involved by organising an event locally. 

Aberdeen Astronomical Society and the RSPB are teaming up to offer an exciting evening of star gazing on Saturday 8th February 2014 at the Loch of Strathbeg Reserve, Crimond, Nr Fraserburgh, AB43 8QY (www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/l/lochofstrathbeg )

The event, entitled "Winter Stars and Galaxies", is for all the family and is being hosted at the Starnafin Visitor Centre. The fun starts at 7pm. Wrap up warm and come along for a chance to see some amazing sights in our night sky. Refreshments will also be available. 

This event is free, but booking is essential due limited parking.  Email: strathbeg@rspb.org.uk Telephone: Kath Hamper, 01346 532017. Places limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

"If life gives you cheese, make fondue". In Neal's presentation he's promised to give us his take on why the moon should not be seen as a nuisance, which obscures the visibility of other things in the night sky, but instead, treasured as a wonder in its own right with hours of observing and fun to be had if you know where to start.

Being run in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage this evening is entitled “Winter Stars and Galaxies” and there are high hopes for really dark and clear skies well away from the light pollution of nearby towns and villages. The telescopes will be trained on some really exciting stellar objects and there will be some indoor activities too. The fun starts at 7pm. This event is recommended for families and there is no need to book in advance.

Date

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Location

Being run in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage this evening is entitled “Winter Stars and Galaxies” and there are high hopes for really dark and clear skies well away from the light pollution of nearby towns and villages. The telescopes will be trained on some really exciting stellar objects and there will be some indoor activities too. The fun starts at 7pm. This event is recommended for families and there is no need to book in advance.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/thingstodo/activity/winter-stars-and-galaxies-02

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Location

followed by some Christmas fun with quiz & mince pies

Alford Academy, Alford, 6:30-9.00pm

Inspired BBC Two’s Star Gazing Live,  Aberdeen Astronomical Society has teamed up with Alford Academy to offer an evening of star gazing.   

Come along and see some amazing winter galaxies and stars. Wrap up warm and come and join the fun. The Cosmic Dome will also be indoors for a mini-planetarium experience. This event is free but donations are welcome.

For more information on the event follow this BBC link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/thingstodo/activity/street-stargaze/occurrence/56229

Inspired BBC Two’s Star Gazing Live,  Aberdeen Astronomical Society members will accompany you on a journey amongst the stars.

Come along and see some amazing winter galaxies, stars and the moons of Jupiter. Wrap up warm and join us for an evening of fun. Refreshments will also be available. This event is free.

For more information on the event follow this BBC link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/thingstodo/activity/street-stargazing/occurrence/54983

Stargazing Live returns to BBC Two for 3 nights from 16th January 2012 and the BBC are encouraging astronomy clubs across the country to get involved by organising an event locally in January. 

Aberdeen Astronomical Society and the RSPB are teaming up to offer an exciting evening of star gazing on Saturday 28th January 2012 at the Loch of Strathbeg Reserve, Crimond, Nr Fraserburgh (map).   

The event, entitled "Winter Stars and Galaxies", is for all the family and is being hosted at the Starnafin Visitor Centre. The fun starts at 6.30pm. Wrap up warm and come along for a chance to see some amazing sights in our night sky.  Refreshments will also be available. This event is free.

For more information on the event follow this BBC link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/thingstodo/activity/winter-stars-and-galaxies  

or this RSPB link
http://www.rspb.org.uk/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-300601

Phil Hart will guide you to take awe inspiring photographs of the Universe through your DSLR.  

Course Notes (eBook) are included in the £13 (* USD 19.95) ticket . Instructions for obtaining a ticket are as follows :

Venus orbits between us and the Sun but the sight of the planet crossing directly in front of the Sun is something we can see only once more in our lifetimes, in the early morning of June 6th. This ‘Transit of Venus’ has in the past been a key sight that allowed our forebears in the 18th and 19th centuries to measure the size of the solar system. Aberdonian David Gill was a leading astronomer in this field in the 19th century. Now, transits of planets in front of their parent stars are the most fertile way of discovering extra-solar planets. Dr Reid will discuss why the Transit of Venus has been so important in the past, why the transits are rare phenomena, what is in store for us on the morning of 6th June and the best way to see the sight, weather permitting. He will conclude with some comments on extra-solar planets.

Event put on by Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums, 
Aberdeen City Council

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Location

additional opportunity   on 9th September 2010 – Gala Dinner & Drinks Reception with Charlie Duke in Glasgow Marriott Hotel - £50/ticket

'Remember Membership Fees Are Due'

This event is ideal for all age groups. Please dress warmly.

The Stars at Night is a free event courtesy of the Enchanted Festival sponsors.

(part of a series of Enchanted Festival events in Royal Deeside during November-December) 

www.astronomersofthefuture.net 
“Astronomers of the Future” is a new organisation, set up by husband and wife team, Linda and Duncan Lunan, for beginners who are keen to find out more about astronomy and space.

Edinburgh Student Debating Hall, Bristo Square 
10.00 to 17:30 ,  23 Apr 2011

Date

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2009 is the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009), celebrating four hundred years since Galileo Galilei looked through a rudimentary telescope and saw wonders that changed Man's understanding of the Cosmos. Since then we have learned much more about the Universe in which we live, brought about through observations provided by astronomical instrumentation, in turn driven by technology. This talk will give an overview of our understanding of the Universe in which we live, the major observational advances since the time of Galileo and how they have gone hand-in-hand with technological innovation. I will conclude with examples of how the International Year of Astronomy is celebrating the excitement of astronomy today.

"Love Under the Stars"

Programme highlights
"Love is in the Air" (Dr Alex Johnstone, Rowett Institute for Nutrition and Health)

"The Many Variables in Romance" (Dr Marco Thiel, Mathematician and Systems Biologist)

New Moon & Dark Sky Talk (Torquil Torrance, AAS)
 
Cosmic Dome

More details

14 February 2010, 18:00 - 21:00 
Venue:  Satrosphere Science Centre 

Host: University of Aberdeen, Satrosphere and TechFest-SetPoint

Celebrating the New Moon this Valentine's Evening with a diverse mix of Astronomy and The Science of Love - featuring top University of Aberdeen Academics, the Cosmic Dome Planetarium, Aberdeen Astronomical Society and Satrosphere Science Team. 

This Valentine's Day, we're celebrating International Year of Astronomy and the New Moon with an opportunity to view Mars and Orion against a dark sky. Telescopes will be out in force, as will top researchers from the University of Aberdeen. On arrival, you will be greeted with a glass of pink champagne - so come along for an evening of science with a romantic twist."

Admission is Free and there is no need to book 
- just come along on the evening

Astronomer Royal for Scotland and Professor of Astronomy at the University of Glasgow 

Woodend Barn, Banchory , 7.00pm

February's CTO meeting (moved to Tuesday 16th Feb) is to be convened at Woodend Barn, Banchory as the John Brown, Astronomer Royal for Scotland is giving the first in a series of Cafe Scientifique talks

Free entry. Held in Buchanans Restaurant.

John Brown, Astronomer Royal for Scotland and Regius Professor of Astronomy at the University of Glasgow. His interest in astronomy began in 1957, age 10 when the first Sky at Night programme was aired and Sputnik went into orbit. His interests in magic also started then, inspired by a magic set he got for Christmas. Although now a prominent astrophysics theorist, as a young amateur he started a school astronomy club and made several telescopes. Some of astronomy's big questions will be on the agenda, ensuring a lively event to mark the climax of International Year of Astronomy!

Woodend Barn, Burn o' Bennie, Banchory AB31 5QA

Travelling west from Aberdeen on the A93 Braemar road, just before you reach Banchory, take the turning on the right signposted B977 Hirn & Echt, there is a brown tourist board sign for the Woodend Barn Arts Centre. Due to the new road lay-out, The Barn is now clearly visible up on the right hand side. The road to the Woodend Barn Arts Centre is the first on the right and first right again. 

Woodend Barn is conveniently placed a short walk up-hill from the A93 and the main Aberdeen/Braemar bus route 201. There are other local routes too.

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MARS EXPLORATION : For centuries mankind has been fascinated by the planet Mars. This talk will cover the early observations of Mars from Kepler to Huygens' first drawing of the disc of Mars to the 19th Century "Mars Mainia" culminating in Percival Lowell and his Martian canals. We'll look at; the dawn of the space age with the work of Hohmann who in the 1920s developed the concept of the Hohmann Transfer Orbit, the first detailed proposals for human Mars exploration in the 1950s, unmanned Mariner and Viking missions of the 1960s and 1970s, Wernher von Braun's 1969 Manned Mars program NERVA, Soviet proposals of the 1980s, current Mars exploration Sojourner, MRO, Mars exploration Rovers, Phoenix and the future of Mars exploration.

Traditionally, astronomers have raced to determine more and more distant galaxies in order to understand the earliest epochs of galaxy evolution. Since these galaxies are at such incredible distances the samples tend to only include the very brightest and largest galaxies. By investigating the history of more local galaxies, we have been able to probe the history of galaxy evolution over all mass ranges

Talk Cancelled due to bad weather, but rearranged  for Apr-14th

(Also separate AAS members only event at Dark Sky Site)

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Location
  (directions to CTO  , Bettridge Centre )

The highly illustrated talk will outline our place in the Universe, describe the key points about active galaxies, give a nicely simplified overview of black holes, how they form and how they power active galaxies, and will show how activity in galaxies may be a natural part of evolution. The talk will also include a look at our own Milky Way Galaxy and the evidence for a supermassive black hole at its centre.

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