View to the south from the Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre
The Newbury Amateur Astronomy Society – Beginners Section is beginning its tenth year of providing monthly observing evenings for local people.
The Newbury Amateur Astronomy Society was founded in 1981 by four local ladies who had studied for their GCSE in astronomy, through evening classes, at Newbury Collage. When the constitution for the new society was drawn up, one of the declared aims was to take the hobby of astronomy to the local community and especially to young people. The Society soon started providing talks and observing sessions to local schools and many local organisations (young people and adults) who asked for a visit. There was so much interest shown by children that a Junior Section was started.
In 1991 the first Junior Section meeting was held at the Bistro Restaurant on Newbury Racecourse. The Bistro had a room which could be used for talks and there was space outside for observing and the meetings thrived. Meetings were held at the Bistro for four years but gradually the number of lights around the venue increased making observing difficult. It also became apparent that many parents and grandparents were coming along with the children until eventually the numbers of adults equalled the children.
In 1998 it was decided to re-launch the Junior Section as the Beginners Section and open it more widely to the local community. The organisers also felt that the experience they had gained over the first years would allow them to expand the programme. More emphasis was to be placed on practical observing so a darker site would be needed. In 1998 the venue was moved to the Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre where the indoor facilities are excellent and the view of the night sky across the lake is as good as anywhere in the Newbury area. The Beginners Section numbers increased to around 30 and on occasions up to nearer 40.
View to the south from the Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre
The meetings continued to be held at the Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre until it was closed in 2006 for a major uplift and expansion. During the uplift period the Beginners moved to a temporary venue at St. Mary's Church Hall in Greenham. It had been intended to resume meetings at the re-opened Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre on 19th September 2007 but flood damage closed the Centre and meetings will now continue to be held at St. Mary's Church Hall for the rest of this session (September 2008 through to June 2009). For directions to St. Mary's Church Hall click HERE. A number of star parties will be held at the Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre where the view of the night sky is much better.
A young beginner using the society's 200mm (8") telescope
Things are looking good for this session with a number of new telescopes available for people to use. The programme of short introductory level talks for the session looks exciting and, weather permitting, the observing sessions with views of the planets, promise to be breathtaking. There is no formal membership so anyone can turn up for the meetings which begin at 7:15 and end at around 9:00. The meetings are very informal and friendly with light refreshments provided at no extra charge.