Find out more about East Riding Astronomers
We use this page to provide insights into the history and activities of ERA, providing links to some of our archived documents and images of historical rather than astronomical interest.
March 2020: National Astronomy Week.
This day-long public event at Cottingham Civic Hall saw all the local astronomy clubs come together with others (The Milne Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Hull, for example) to provide an opportunity for members of the public to find out more about astrophysics and star gazing.
Little did we know that a few weeks later we would all be in lockdown and isolated from friends and family.
During lockdown there was an “explosion” of online events and activities. Dave Eagle’s highly influential Virtual Astronomy Club was online twice weekly from April 2020 for several years.
ERA started a weekly zoom meeting a few months later, which helped many club members keep in touch with a 90 min chat each week. At one time I recall having 4 astronomy related zoom meetings/lectures in a single week.
Sadly during that first 12 months of lockdown we lost Tony Scaife, the founder and long time chair of the club in January 2021. A few months later we also lost Club member Peter Clarke, renowned double star observer and author of , in April 2021.
The Container
In early 2021 the Club applied for and was awarded a modest lottery fund that enabled it to buy and fit out a 20ft container to use as a hub for our meetings. During the summer the 10 active club members worked to site, fit out and paint the container, ready for our first face to face meeting in September 2021.
The Treasure House and Guildhall exhibitions
Beverley Library and Treasure House have a history of hosting short exhibitions of local interest. Little did we know that during 2022 our three-month long exhibition would last for almost an entire year.
To find out more and view the contents of our exhibition click on the image to the right.
If the sun were the size of a pea, how many peas away is the Andromeda galaxy?
Support for Cubs, Scouts, Round table and Live Labs 2
Over the last few years we have provided support and advice to several scout and cubs groups, a local school as well as the regional Round Table.
We are supportive of East Riding Yorkshire Council’s initiative to decarbonise (and so reduce light pollution from) some local highways. The work is experimental but we wish them every success.