2026
January 8th: Trevarrian
Practical club night. PLEASE NOTE: This would have happened on New Years day, so has been moved back a week to the 8th
The emphasis of each meeting is to get out under the stars with our scopes ( so please bring yours along with you) and do some observing. If the weather doesn’t play ball, we will be arranging some observing or imaging techniques to enhance your practical skills.
January 15th: Summercourt
We have two talks for you this evening. Frank Johns starts the evening with a talk on Plato. The philosopher, was looking for a physical law which would account for the orbits of errant stars (planets) to satisfy his need for uniformity and regularity. PLATO, the ESO project, is designed to get the data that perhaps, Plato the philosopher, needed for his quest.astronomers have heard of.
After the break, Dr Nigel Price ‘s 10 minute talk on Neutrinos – what are they and why are they important to physics and astronomers
Meeting Lead Nick Tonkin
January 24th Sun & Stars: Carnewas
The first of this years Sun & Stars events. The event, as always, is dependant on clear skies, but this evening we hope to be able to see sunspot activity on the surface of the Sun before it sets. As the skies darken, we will be able to observe a first quarter Moon and details on Saturn and Jupiter as they rise out of the Twilight.
The event starts at 16:00.
Click the link below for full location information
https://goo.gl/maps/kFJSUZd588YQvNaS9
February 5th: Trevarrian
Practical club night taking place on the 1st Thursday of every month until March next year. The emphasis of each meeting is to get out under the stars with our scopes ( so please bring yours along with you) and do some observing. If the weather doesn’t play ball, we will be arranging some observing or imaging techniques to enhance your practical skills.
February 19th: Summercourt
The main talk of the evening will be given by Dan and a continuation of a talk he gave us last year. Life in the Solar System? -Part Two.
After the break Mark Godwin’s 10 minute talk is : The history of Constellations.
Meeting Lead Mike Griffiths
February 21st: Sun & Stars : Carnewas
The second of this years Sun & Stars events. The event, as always, is dependant on clear skies, but this evening we hope to be able to see sunspot activity on the surface of the Sun before it sets. As the skies darken, we will be able to observe A setting Mercury and Saturn and under darker skies observe Jupiter as it approaches the meridian. Throughout the session a waxing crescent Moon can also be explored.
The event starts at 17:00.
Click the link below for full location information
https://goo.gl/maps/kFJSUZd588YQvNaS9
March 5th: Trevarrian
Practical club night taking place on the 1st Thursday of every month until March next year. The emphasis of each meeting is to get out under the stars with our scopes ( so please bring yours along with you) and do some observing. If the weather doesn’t play ball, we will be arranging some observing or imaging techniques to enhance your practical skills.
March 19th: Summercourt
The main talk of the evening will be given by Lorna Crystal : An Introduction to Astro Archaeology: How do we prove that ancient monuments and landscapes were intentionally aligned to celestial events?
Astroarchaeology investigates the intentional incorporation of celestial phenomena into ancient monuments and landscapes. Establishing intentionality requires the integration of archaeological evidence with astronomical analysis. I will be discussing the scientific procedures by which alignments between monuments and celestial events are identified, tested, and interpreted.
After the break Glynn Bennallick’s 10 minute talk entitled American Astronomers: A look at people from the North American continent fascinated by the night sky. From unnamed prehistory Native Americans to the top Cosmology Theorists and Observers using cutting edge technologies.
Meeting Lead Jacquie Ashton
April 16th: Summercourt
The Club AGM: Your chance to shape the future of how the club is run and what activities and talks we provide going through 2025 and into early 2026.
May 21st: Summercourt
The main talk of the evening will be given by Frank Johns entitled – WHO???: Nicholas-Louis De La Caille was a leading figure among eighteen century observational astronomers. No armchair philosopher, La Caille travelled far in pursuit of scientific truths.
After the break Dean Ashton and his 10 minute talk – Colour in Astronomy – Part 2
Dean will summarise his 2025 presentation, Colour in Astronomy – Part 1. Today we’ll explore how colour is used to create accurate ‘True colour’ pictures and analytical ‘false colour’ images in astrophotography.
Meeting Lead Mark Godwin.
June 18th: Summercourt
The main talk of the evening will be given by Dr Nigel Price – Gravity and the detection of gravitational waves: The history of gravity and the detection of gravitational waves.
After the break Mike Griffiths 10 minute talk: Using your Ingenuity
Meeting Lead Frank Johns
July 16th: Summercourt
The main talk of the evening will be given by Barry Trudgian : Building an observatory- a personal account of the construction and operation of his new, fully remote operated observatory.
After the break we have an anything goes session for anyone to talk about anything astronomy related.
Meeting Lead Phil Brotherwood
August 20th: Summercourt
The main talk of the evening will be given by Mark Godwin on the Greek astronomers.
After the break Nick Tonkin and his 10 minute talk – Trouble at the NGC: Nick gives a gives a brief history of astronomers attempts to correct the New General and IC Catalogues, and how towards the end of the effort, it all became rather acrimonious.
Meeting Lead Dean Ashton
September 17th: Summercourt
The main talk of the evening will be given by Glynn Bennallick: Missions to Mars: A look at the successful attempts (and otherwise!) to explore the Fourth Rock from the Sun – The Red Planet. Early theories, fictional Mars, search for life, probes and landers, the story so far…
After the break Dan baker and his 10 minute talk -Dan Baker: Atmospheric anomalies- the bit between us & the stars.
Meeting Lead Dr Nigel Price.
October 1st: Trevarrian
The first of this years practical club nights taking place on the 1st Thursday of every month until March next year. The emphasis of each meeting is to get out under the stars with our scopes ( so please bring yours along with you) and do some observing. If the weather doesn’t play ball, we will be arranging some observing or imaging techniques to enhance your practical skills.
October 15th : Summercourt
The main talk of the evening will be given by Phil Brotherwood: The Secret Lives of Planets
After the break Heather Bobeck and her 10 minute talk : The Lucy Mission: What they have found so far and what’s ahead on the mission.
Meeting Lead Barry Trudgian
November 5th: Trevarrian
Practical club night taking place on the 1st Thursday of every month until March next year. The emphasis of each meeting is to get out under the stars with our scopes ( so please bring yours along with you) and do some observing. If the weather doesn’t play ball, we will be arranging some observing or imaging techniques to enhance your practical skills.
November 19th: Summercourt
Quiz Night: It’s that time of year again folks. Now’s the time to dig out your old copy of Trivial Pursuit and brush up on your general knowledge.
Meeting Lead Dan Baker
December 3rd: Trevarrian
Practical club night taking place on the 1st Thursday of every month until March next year. The emphasis of each meeting is to get out under the stars with our scopes ( so please bring yours along with you) and do some observing. If the weather doesn’t play ball, we will be arranging some observing or imaging techniques to enhance your practical skills.
December 17th: Summercourt
A Christmas jumper and mince pie meeting. Bring either of these along for our last meeting of 2026.
Tonight we have an anything goes session for anyone to talk about anything astronomy related.
Meeting lead Nick Tonkin