Societies
The Federation of Astronomical Societies aims to be a body of societies united in their attempts to help each other find the best ways of working for their common cause of creating a fully successful astronomical society.
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.
Society for Popular Astronomy
The SPA is for anyone who's new to astronomy. Whether you're young or old, a beginner or an experienced skywatcher, there’s something for you. We aim to make stargazing fun!
Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), founded in 1820, encourages and promotes the study of astronomy, solar-system science, geophysics and closely related branches of science.
Go
Stargazing
A site dedicated to showing all the latest what /
where / when of astronomy related events.
PC Charting Software
Software Bisque
The SkyX for Windows or Macintosh is an easy-to-use, full-featured, graphical astronomy program that turns your personal computer into a personal planetarium. Fully configurable on all levels, this software is highly regarded by experienced astronomers. Comes in three versions depending on your requirements.
SkyMap Pro
Chris Marriott's SkyMap Pro 11 is a CD-ROM planetarium and star-charting program for Windows . Written by astronomers, for astronomers. SkyMap Pro is equally suited for use by both the casual "star gazer" and the serious amateur or professional astronomer, although its feature list will appeal especially to the more "advanced" user. A usable Demo of the software is available from their website. While a little old, the charting detail is impressive
Starry Night
Brilliantly realistic, but designed for anyone with an interest in the night sky, Starry Night Backyard lets novice space explorers instantly launch themselves into the fascinating world of astronomy right from their desktops, with or without a telescope. Comes in various flavours from the backyard edition to the pro version.
C2A
C2A (Computer Aided Astronomy) is a Planetarium software that allows you to build detailed views of stellar fields. An important objective of this software is to take into account the main catalogues available to professional and amateur astronomers in order to prepare observations on small fields as well as astrometry and photometry works. C2A is also an easy to use general purpose Planetarium software with many functions. Available as a free download
Stellarium
Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope. Suitable for all platforms and is available as a free download.
Cartes du Ciel
This program enables you to draw sky charts, making use of the data in 16 catalogs of stars and nebulae. In addition the position of planets, asteroids and comets are shown.
The purpose of this program is to prepare different sky maps for a particular observation. A large number of parameters help you to choose specifically or automatically which catalogs to use, the colour and the dimension of stars and nebulae, the representation of planets, the display of labels and coordinate grids, the superposition of pictures, the condition of visibility and more. All these features make this celestial atlas more complete than a conventional planetarium. Available as a free Download
Virtual Moon Atlas
This is still the only Lunar Planetaria for the Moon that’s worth using. It’s looking a little dated and the imagery from the Clementine orbiter really needs to be replaced with that now being obtained by the LRO. Having said that, it’s easy to use, fully featured and is full ASCOM compliant. A must for the serious Lunar observer.
Skysafari 3
SkySafari isn't just an award-winning iPhone astronomy app - now it's available for Mac OS X, too! SkySafari's interface has been redesigned from scratch for the Mac, using 100% native Cocoa OS X controls. SkySafari's iOS OpenGL astronomy engine soars on the Mac, and a full-sized monitor, mouse, and keyboard open up a universe of new possibilities. This has to be the prettiest of all the Mac planetaria and gives Starry Night pro a real run for it's money.
iPad Apps
Skysafari
According to The Mac Observer, SkySafari 3 is "the best of all the star chart apps for iOS". As just reviewed in Sky & Telescope magazine, SkySafari 3 is "revolutionary", and a "game-changer" that can completely replace your desktop astronomy software. Gizmodo says: "Of all the stargazing and astronomy apps available for iOS, SkySafari 3 is the best."
Now, with SkySafari 3.5 Plus and Pro, you can follow celestial events in Earth's sky - or from anywhere else in the Solar System. Spaceflight has never been so easy!
Moon Globe HD
Hold the Moon in your hands. Moon Globe HD turns your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad into a precision instrument for viewing Earth's Moon. Satellite imagery and topographic laser altimeter data are combined to render the Moon with realistic lighting in realtime 3D. The free version is great, but get the HD version and see detail taken from the LRO at twice the resolution and with better rendering.
GoSatWatch
Satellite tracking on the iPhone/iPod touch. Track and predict visible satellite passes. Touch a satellite in the map view to see it’s orbit path and location. The Overhead sky view shows what is in the sky for your location. Touch a satellite to find out what it is and where it is going. Includes satellite pass predictions with viewing times, directions, and sky track display.
Observer Pro
Observer Pro is a ground breaking app for advanced astronomy planning. No more guessing when that galaxy emerges from behind that pesky tree. No more estimating how many hours you'll be able to image an object. Observer Pro gives every astronomer the info they need right at their fingertips (even if you're not a Certified Astro Geek). You won't know how you did astronomy without it!
Observation Logging and Planning
Astroplanner
AstroPlanner is a software application for Macintosh and Windows computers that facilitates astronomical observation planning, visualisation and logging, as well as control of telescopes with computerised go-to mounts or digital setting circle controllers.
Skytools 3
SkyTools is the only complete suite of software tools designed specifically for astronomical observing. Designed by an avid observer trained as a professional astronomer, each tool is second to none. But what makes SkyTools truly powerful is the seamless and intuitive way each tool works with the others.
Equipment Guides, Suppliers and Manufacturers
TelescopeGuide.Org
Your One-Stop Resource for Getting Started with Telescopes & Astronomy
Telescope House
The Telescope House shop and website continues to offer some of the best Telescopes and astronomical equipment from throughout the world and the expert team here is dedicated to providing taylor made advice to amateur astronomers of all ages and levels of experience, as well as providing astronomical project oversight for schools, colleges and universities
Orion Optics
British manufacturers and suppliers of quality astronomical telescopes and accessories. Orion Optics UK manufacture quality astronomical telescopes and hand finished optics in Crewe, England. Our high standards and precision engineering coupled with the use of high tech materials ensure our products are among the very best available.
Meade
Founded in 1972 and public since 1997, Meade is a world leader in the design and manufacture of mass produced telescopes and accessories for amateur astronomers. The ETX and LX range of Go-To telescopes have probably introduced more people to observational astronomy, than any other telescope.
Celestron
An award-winning legacy brand for over 50 years, Celestron has grown to become the world’s leading telescope maker, and enjoys brand-name recognition among serious amateur astronomers for superior optics, outstanding design, and innovative technology. Celestron also develops a wide range of exciting products and technologies that enhance the science, outdoor and educational markets. At Celestron, we strive to inspire a sense of wonder, knowledge and fun in our customers and throughout our company.
Vixen Optics UK
Whether you are a beginner astronomer or an experienced astrophotographer, the Vixen range of telescopes, mounts and accessories has something to meet your needs.
Skywatcher Telescopes
Sky-Watcher is a First-Class market leading brand of Telescopes for Astronomy with models available for astronomers of all ages and abilities. A massive range of Stargazing Telescopes are available, with the following telescope designs:- Newtonian Reflectors, Dobsonians, Maksutov-Cassegrains, Achromatic Refractors & Apochromatic ED Refractors supplied on a variety of Telescope Mountings.
William Optics
William Optics Telescope fit all levels of users, novice to expert. Our reputation for high-end but affordable refractors and telescope accessories has been expanding constantly. Take a look at our complete offering, and start observing with fine optics and portable scopes like WO's
Baader
Solar observing has never been more popular than nowadays. Baader Planetarium offers a broad range of products for solar observers.
Planetary and Lunar Observation
Inconstant Moon
The Moon is the most easily observable astronomical object, and also the most rewarding. For the beginner, it is a breath-taking spectacle through even a modest optical instrument, and as the knowledge and resources of the astronomer increase, it will continue to provide fascinating new challenges and insights. Inconstant Moon is intended as both an introduction to lunar astronomy for the beginner, and an on going reference point for the more experienced observer.
The Lunar 100
The Lunar 100 list is an attempt to provide Moon lovers with something akin to what deep-sky observers enjoy with the Messier catalogue: a selection of telescopic sights to ignite interest and enhance understanding. Presented here is a selection of the Moon's 100 most interesting regions, craters, basins, mountains, rilles, and domes. I challenge observers to find and observe them all and, more important, to consider what each feature tells us about lunar and Earth history.
Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers
We welcome and provide services for all individuals interested in lunar and planetary astronomy. For the novice observer, the A.L.P.O. is a place to learn and to enhance observational techniques. For the advanced amateur astronomer, it is a place where one's work will count. For the professional astronomer, it is a resource where group studies or systematic observing patrols add to the advancement of astronomy. The Association has sections for all the Solar system bodies.
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
The most detailed photographic mapping survey of the Moon to date. With a graphic zoomable map of all the images captured so far, makes this the most useful image resource for the Lunar observer. Mindblowing!!
Deep Sky Observation
The Webb Deep Sky Society
The society was founded and named in honour of the Reverend Thomas William Webb (1806-1885), an eminent amateur astronomer whose classic Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes has been an inspiration to several generations of amateur astronomers. The main purpose of the Society is to encourage amateur observations of double stars and 'deep-sky' objects such as star-clusters and nebulae, and to provide a forum where observers can communicate and publish the results of their work.
Astronomy Sketch of the Day
The idea behind ASOD is to provide an appropriate stage for a single astronomical sketch for the entire day, much as other similar calendrical websites treat the best CCD and DSLR images supplied by amateurs. Obviously these other sites have specific areas of interest. One of the very cool things about Astronomical Sketching is that it includes just about every type of celestial object you can think of, and that makes it very attractive to all. This is another chance for sketching to reach out and instruct, not only with techniques but with serious discussion of the objects through the works and words of the artists themselves.
Solar Observation
Spaceweather.com
News and information about the Earth-Sun environment. The perfect tool for identifying sunspot numbers.
SOHO
SOHO, the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory, is a project of international collaboration between ESA and NASA to study the Sun from its deep core to the outer corona and the solar wind.
Spectroscopy
RSpec
A colorful spectrum like the one at the top of this page can rightly be called a “fingerprint of a star.” Spectra like this one reveal the composition, temperature, and movement of stars. In the past, only professionals had the skill and equipment to study spectra. Recently, the cost and complexity of the necessary hardware and software has dropped enormously. Today, you can easily study the spectra of stars and planets with a minimum of expense. If you have a telescope and a CCD camera (even a webcam or DSLR), then all you need is an inexpensive Star Analyser grating and the RSpec software. It’s an exciting pursuit. We invite you to join the growing number of amateur astronomers who have discovered the thrilling adventure of spectroscopy!
The Three Hills Observatory
The Website of Robin Leadbeater, a leading light in British Spectroscopy.
Astronomy Magazine Websites
Sky & Telescope Magazine
America's premier Astronomical monthly magazine. Aimed at the more experienced observer. The magazine is also available in an electronic format for both desktop and mobile devices
Astronomy Magazine
America's other major Astronomical month public. The magazine is also available in an electronic format for both desktop and mobile devices.
Astronomy Now
Astronomy Now magazine is the UK's longest standing astronomy magazine, providing a monthly source of information for amateur and professional astronomers alike.
Sky at Night Magazine
The TV programme in a magazine. The magazine is also available in an electronic format for the iPad.
Weather Forecasting for Astronomers
Weatherweb
Has an Astronomy specific section for their forecasts that provide pressure charts, a satellite cloud cover image and a five day forecast giving low, medium and high level cloud forecasts as well as a forecast for seeing and transparency.
Metcheck
With detailed 3 day and less detailed 7 day forecasts specifically for the astronomer. More detail, on cloud level forecasts than Weatherweb but no seeing or transparency detail.
7timer
Generates a three day icon display of the cloud cover, seeing, transparency temperature, humidity and rain for your location. The resulting display can be embedded within your own website.
Sat24
Sat24.com provides realtime satellite images of weather systems over the UK and Europe. A visual time frame sequence provide a previous three hour period of cloud cover enabling the astronomer to make a calculated prognosis of the likelihood of clear skies.
Newquay Weather Station
A local privately owner weather station, with links to more locally related weather pages than you can shake a stick at!
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