Society Meetings

When we meet

The Society normally meets on the first Tuesday of every month in Smithton-Culloden Free Church from 7:30pm until 10:00pm. On occasion, meetings may take place elsewhere, but details will be available in our programme which you can find here. You can also  contact us if you require any other information.

As a courtesy to our speakers, please make sure that you arrive on time and are seated by 7:30pm.

Please note that the January meeting may occasionally be held on the 2nd Tuesday because of the New Year holidays. It is advisable to check our programme for further details.

Other events, such as star parties and observation sessions at the JSL Observatory, Culloden Battlefield, often take place on an ad hoc basis and it is therefore advisable to keep an eye on our agenda and message board for details.

Where we meet

We meet at Smithton-Culloden Free Church which has ample free car parking.  Directions can be found here.

During most of the meetings there is a presentation by one of the members, or a guest speaker. The subject of the presentations can, and does vary from the realms of particle physics to observational skills.There are also a number of fixed agenda items at meetings, such as updates on current projects and any relevant Society news. At each meeting during the winter months a topical constellation is described in detail.

Members have ample opportunity to ask any questions and to network during the break, or after the formal meeting is over.

The April meeting is our Annual General Meeting, and occasionally there is an open forum meeting where members can ask questions or engage in a discussion.

Please click here to find out where and when our meetings take place for the coming year.

 

Open days

In September each year, the Society holds its annual open day in The Eastgate Centre, Inverness.  During the day, members of the Society are on hand to talk to members of the public about all aspects of the hobby. There are photographs, telescopes, diagrams, books, demonstrations and competitions as well as information on the society and its observatory.
 

Star parties

When observing conditions are good, society members will often meet at a dark location, or at the JSL Observatory, to do some astronomical observing together. Sometimes such star parties may be organised well in advance and, if the skies don't clear a workshop will take place indoors.

During the star parties, members without their own equipment get the chance to experience using different types of telescopes. Members who do have a telescope can learn to improve their skills by learning the tricks of the trade from each other. Whatever happens during a star party, it is always great fun and members can tend to become addicted after they have attended one.

Projects

As well as the regular monthly meetings, there are, occasionally, special meetings during which the members discuss future projects. Many of our members have unique skills in one field or another and by utilising these skills, a wide variety of projects can be undertaken. Some members are also engaged in projects of their own, often inviting other members to join in. One of the projects currently attracting more and more interest is adapting web cameras for the purpose of photographing the bright planets and the moon.

Some examples of past and current projects:

The building of a permanent observatory
Making a 12" Dobsonian telescope for Society star parties
Organising 'Open Day' events and fund raising activities.
Submitting evidence to the Parliamentary Science & Technology Committee on light pollution
This website

Admission to the regular meetings is free to members and £2.50 per evening for non-members. However, you can come to one of our evenings for free, if it is your first time, just to try it out and see what you think.