AAS - Aberdeen Astronomical Society

John Reid Memorial Lecture, 14th October 2025

Aurora from night 2025-09-01 / 2025-09-02

(taken by David Richards with Tapo C325WB Camera)

AAS Meetings
Upcoming Meetings & Talks

Tuesday 14th October 2025
Online Talk via Zoom for AAS Members & Associates
7:30 - 9:30 pm
**** John Reid Memorial Lecture ****

"Asteroids, Comets and the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (unlocking the secrets of the Solar System with Survey Astronomy)"

by Dr Jamie Robinson
Postdoctoral Research Associate,
Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
Royal Observatory Edinburgh( ROE)
Note: Start time for this meeting is 7:30 pm

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, formerly the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, is an astronomical observatory in Coquimbo Region, Chile. Its main task is to conduct an astronomical survey of the southern sky every few nights, creating a ten-year time-lapse record, termed the Legacy Survey of Space and Time.

First light: June 2025, Altitude: 2672m
Diameter: 8.4m. Collecting area: 35 m2
Angular resolution: 0.7" median seeing limit

Tuesday 28th October 2025
7:00 - 9:30 pm
"Informal Meeting"
In person at Bettridge Centre, Newtonhill,
from 7 pm for informal chat and tea/coffee etc
in the Bettridge Centre kitchen,
or via Zoom (from 7:30 pm)
(Directions to Bettridge Centre)

Important note
Meetings/Talks at RGC Aberdeen
have been suspended for the 2025/26 season.

We hope to be able to organise 2 or 3 speakers for online talks via Zoom instead including the John Reid Memorial Lecture .

Any future resumption of regular 2nd Tuesday of Month meetings will be dependant on fresh people coming forward on to the Committee to organize speakers / meetings etc. (meetings at Bettridge Centre will still continue on the 4th Tuesday of Month)

( Anyone is welcome to become a member,
please see our contact page for details )

>> 2025/26 Meetings & Events

Dark Sky Observing
Knockburn Loch
Look out for future notices from Neal Weston
AAS Members Only

Informal Monthly Meetings
Informal Meetings at Bettridge are again being held in person
Meetings will also be available via Zoom to members
(look out for additional notices on aberdeenastro.groups.io )

>> More Events

Photo of Aberdeen Astronomical Society members at the society's Deep Sky Site, 13th October 2015

Click on Picture for larger view (including sky & stars)

Requesting a talk from AAS or obtaining guidance about setting up and using your astronomical equipment

One of our aims at AAS is to help people understand astronomy. This might be through talks to local clubs and societies, talks to schools, or help with astronomy badges to scout and guide groups. Talks can be at any level; routinely we help local groups understand the night sky and what they can see, as well as helping individuals or groups to set up and get the best use out of astronomy equipment.
For more details please click here

Welcome to the website of Aberdeen Astronomical Society (AAS).

AAS is an organisation for astronomy enthusiasts that meet on a regular basis for astronomical observing, talks by guest speakers and visits to observatories and planetaria (AAS Flyer, pdf). AAS has members of all ages and experience levels.

Meetings from Sept 2014 onwards will normally be held at RGC (Robert Gordon's College), SchoolHill Aberdeen and at the Bettridge Centre, Newtonhill. (Previously the society held meeting at the historic Cromwell Tower Observatory (CTO) in Old Aberdeen) (more >)

New members are very welcome!

Within these pages you can find out what events AAS has coming up, details of where and when we meet and how to join us.

AAS may be contacted by email at

Follow AAS on twitter.com/AberdeenAstro

Feel free to come along to one of our meetings to find out more about AAS. AAS members are happy to give advice on telescope purchase and any other astronomical queries (AAS Meetings).

Come along to one of our Bettridge Centre meetings if you'd like to try out a few telescopes or learn your way around the night sky.

We look forward to meeting you!

AAS is grateful to Forest Enterprise for access to a dark sky site in the Midmar area. In the future, we may wish to build an observatory somewhere as well. AAS members wanting to get involved in this project should join the aberdeenastro Yahoo! Group specially set up for the purpose. The Yahoo! site also contains an active message board for members, giving details of impromptu observing sessions and astronomical chat.

Current Geomagnetic Activity
SAMNET's magnetometer at Crooktree, Near Torphins (Chart Explanation)
more >> Night Sky /Aurorae Section

Society News & Observing Reports

More pictures on Gallery and News pages

more >> AAS News

"Stars from the NE"
Astronomers from North East Scotland

An article about NE Astronomers
from a talk given to the
Robert Cormack Bequest Astronomical Meeting
in Aberdeen, 31st March 2003, by Dr John S. Reid,

History of the Telescope - Part 1
History of the Telescope - Part 2
Article based on a talk given to the AAS
(and the Moray Astronomical Society) by Dr John Reid, 2009

Histelesc.pdf Historic Telescopes
at the University of Aberdeen
(Some notes by Dr John S. Reid, Jan 2006 )

What can you see from Aberdeen tonight? Is an aurora display likely? Will the International Space Station be visible? Find out in the Aberdeen's Night Sky section. This section includes an interactive star chart for Aberdeen. This website also has a Sky Notes page with details of forthcoming astronomical events visible from Aberdeen.

AAS organises regular public observing sessions. See our AAS Events page for details.