Societies and Professional Bodies

We do not endorse or are associated with any of the sites listed here and information, equipment or advice given by them.

Local clubs and societies

HERAS - Hull and East Riding Astronomical Society; A society based in the East Riding, which schedules talks and more for the region and usually meets in Cottingham every month for a lecture.

Scarborough and Ryedale Astronomical Society

York Astronomical Society: Founded in 1972

BLAS - Blackburn Leisure Astronomy Society; BLAS have their own observatory in Brough.


Virtual Lectures

Dave Eagle's Virtual Astronomy Club (VAC). First and formost in virtual astronomy lectures, helped to keep many of us sane during the pandemic lockdown. Follow this link to find out more. The VAC used to host two online meetings a week, then a month and from May 2022 the VAC has been dormant, but will live on with the occasional lecture and the legacy of content online.. Past VAC lectures are available and are listed at the bottom of the page under past meetings on the VAC home page.

Other clubs that provide virtual astronomy lectures include:

HERAS deliver a monthly lecture, currently via Zoom.

Mexborough & Swinton Astronomical Society (MSAS) provide a very informative weekly lecture as part of their regular weekly meeting programme.


National clubs and societies

The Society for Popular Astronomy - a Society dedicated to helping people start a lifelong interest in astronomy

BAA - British Astronomical Association; Formed in 1890,the British Astronomical Association has an international reputation for the quality of its observational and scientific work. Membership is open to all persons interested in astronomy.

FAS - Federation of Astronomical Societies; An organisation which includes most UK astronony societies.

RAS - Royal Astronomical Society; The UK's leading professional body for astronomy & astrophysics, geophysics, solar and solar-terrestrial physics, and planetary sciences.

Campaign for Dark Skies A joint commission of the British Astronomical Association and the International Dark-Sky Association, with the aim of preserving the beauty of the night sky.

The Astronomy Centre; The Astronomy Centre was founded in 1982 with private financial investment. Its twofold purpose was to establish a centre of astronomical excellence and well as to interest and inform the general public.

The Webb Society: An international society of amateur and professional astronomers specialising in the observation of double stars and 'deep sky' objects, founded in 1967. Membership is open to anyone who shares the interests of the Society.


International clubs and societies

AAS; American Astronomical Society

SAC - Saguaro Astronomical Society Very active amateur group which amongst other things have an excellent catalogue of extended Deep Sky objects.

SEDS - Students for the Exploration and Development of Space Excellent resource on the internet for all astro information.

HAS - Hawaiian Astronomical Society; The Hawaiian Astronomical Society Storybook and Deepsky Atlas is a long term effort to provide a good online atlas of the heavens, combined with photographs of significant objects, and their descriptions

IAU - The International Astronomical Union; The International Astronomical Union (IAU) was founded in 1919. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation. Its individual members are professional astronomers all over the World, at the Ph.D. level or beyond and active in professional research and education in astronomy


Astronomy Magazines

Sky at Night; Popular BBC publication available in most good newsagents or by subscription. This magazine is accompanied by a CD ROM.

Popular Astronomy; The SPA quarterly magazine, excellent, and since its English a lot of the information is more relevant than the American magazines.

Sky and Telescope American magazine available in most good newsagents or by subscription.

Astronomy; American magazine available in most good newsagents or by subscription.

Astronomy Now; English astronomy magazines available in most good newsagents.

Astronomy Ireland - Including Magazine Astronomy.


Very useful resources

Astronomy Picture of the Day; One of the best sites on the internet, a new picture and related links each and every day.

Astro ads Thinking of buying or selling astronomical equipment?

CalSky; A upto date online celestial calendar, very good!

IAAC - Internet Amateur Astronomers Catalog The IAAC is a forum for amateur astronomers at all levels to share their observations of Deep-Sky objects.

Nine Planets - The Nine Planets is an overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of each of the planets and moons in our solar system. Each page has text and images, some have sounds and movies, most provide references to additional related information.

Solar Views Views of the Solar System presents a vivid multimedia adventure unfolding the splendor of the Sun, planets, moons, comets, asteroids, and more.

Encyclopedia Mythica The Encyclopedia Mythica is an online encyclopedia on mythology, folklore, and legends. It currently contains over 6,100 entries on gods and goddesses, heroes, legendary creatures and beings from all over the world. Useful since many astronomical objects are associated with legends.

Faulkes Telescope Ever thought of taking pictures with a professional quality scope. For a fee you can online with this service.

Heavens Above If you're interested in satellites or astronomy this is an excellent site! Their aim is to provide you with all the information you need to observe satellites such as the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle, spectacular events such as the dazzlingly bright flares from Iridium satellites as well as a wealth of other spaceflight and astronomical information.

DSS - Digital Sky Survey The Digitized Sky Survey comprises a set of all-sky photographic surveys in E, V, J, R, and N bands conducted with the Palomar and UK Schmidt telescopes

History of Astronomy; Astronomiae Historia contains currently more than 400 Web pages.

The Constellations and their Stars So just what are these constellations you keep hearing about? You may go outside some night and see all kinds of stars, and maybe you have even spotted the Big Dipper (northern hemisphere) or the Southern Cross (southern hemisphere), but what about Leo the Lion or Pisces the Fish? What are they?

JPL Solar System page.; NASA's current missions, links to all main missions.

ESA - European Space Agency ESA current missions and programs. ESA is the European equivalent of NASA.

Software

SEDS software list List of lots of astro packages.

FREE - Cartes du Ciel About the best general astronomy package.

FREE - Virtual Moon Atlas Excellent moon atlas program.

COSTS - StarStrider Excellent solar system simulator.


Observing Websites

The NGC/IC Project Database of all NGC/IC objects with images of most.

The Astronomical League An excellent site if you are looking for observing projects, ever wanted to do the Herschel 400, or a Messier Marathon?

JPL - Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Comet Observation Home Page

BAA - British Astronomical Association Comet Section, listing currently visible comets.

Black skies Planetary Observers Observer's Home Page


Telescope, CCD, Eyepiece and accessory companies

Celestron US manufacturer of astronomical equipment. (Rival of Meade).

Meade; US manufacturer of astronomical equipment. (Rival of Celestron).

David Hinds Ltd Celestron dealer in the UK and other astro equipment.

Telescope house Meade dealer in the UK and other astro equipment. (was Broadhurst, Clarkson and Fuller aka Fullerscopes)

Beacon Hill Telescopes.; UK manufacturer of good practical scopes.

Orion Optics UK Telescope/Mirror maker.; UK manufacturer of good practical scopes.

Starlight Xpress UK CCD manufacturer

SBIG US CCD manufacturer

Televue Premium eyepiece and telescope manufacturer.

Oldham Optical UK OLDHAM OPTICAL UK was established in 1985. Our main product line is the manufacture of optical elements for the professional and amateur astronomical market. We can supply a large range of sizes in our standard product line of astronomical mirrors and elliptical flats.

Rother Valley Optics; Our aim is to ensure our customer’s are getting the best service and value for money. We also ensure we are knowledgeable in the products we are selling. We have a large showroom display of optics from leading brand names.

Microscopes Bargains on microscopes, student microscopes and USB microscopes with Free UK delivery.

NASA

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Main Home Page 'Nuff said

Ames Research Center NASA research centre.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA research centre.

SETI Institute Search For Extra Terrestrial Intelligence. The mission of the SETI Institute is to explore, understand and explain the origin, nature and prevalence of life in the universe.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions in Astronomy sci.astro usenet group FAQ

Space FAQ's Index of all Space related FAQ's