Society Meetings

WHEN WE MEET

The Society normally meets on the first Tuesday of every month in the Green House, Beechwood Business Park, Inverness at 7:15pm until 10:00pm. On occasion, meetings may take place elsewhere, but details will be available in our programme which you can find here, or contact us if you require any other information.

As a courtesy to our speakers, please make sure 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. Best 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

The Green House is easily located near the Inches Roundabout in Inverness, adjacent to the A9. There is ample free parking available as part of the facilities. To find the Green House, click here

SOCIETY MEETINGS AND ACTIVITIES

During most of the meetings there is a presentation by one of the members, or a volunteer from outside. The subject of the presentations can, and do, vary from the realms of particle physics to observational skills.There are also a number of fixed 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.

Once a year there is an equipment night when members bring their telescopes, and other equipment, to the centre. This is a chance for new(er) members to see the range of equipment available and to ask the owners questions about anything to do with equipment, or astronomy in general.

OPEN DAYS

In September 2004, the Society held its yearly open day. During the day, members of the Society were on hand to show interested members of the public all aspects of the hobby. There were photographs, telescopes, diagrams, books, demonstrations and children's competitions. A large number of people enjoyed it, several of whom became members of the Society.

STAR PARTIES

When conditions are good, members often go out and meet at a dark location, or at the JSL Observatory, to do some astronomical observations together. Some of these star parties are organised well in advance and, if the skies don't clear, impromptu ad hoc workshops take place indoors.

During the parties, members without telescopes get the chance to find out what it is like looking through 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 tend to get 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 £2.00 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.