Astronomy in Edinburgh
Because of Covid-19 all our meetings are now online – and we’re doing more of them. Stay involved and keep an eye open here, on Facebook and Twitter. Visitors please join us on our YouTube channel.
We’re aiming to have something happening online at least twice a month – often on Fridays at 7:30pm. We also have the monthly Imaging & Observing Group meetings for ASE members on the Wednesday after the first monthly meeting.
The priority for the ASE is the health and safety of our members and the public but we also want to continue engaging with you all through our love of astronomy.
Follow our Facebook page and Twitter feed for more up-to-the-minute observing ideas, information and results.
Observing forecast for Edinburgh
A green block indicates a clear sky, orange partially clear, red cloudy. Blue blocks show cloud level – darker blue is clearer. Click on the chart for hourly detail and ISS passes. Forecast provided by clearoutside.com
Featured news
Meeting report: “Planet 9 or Planet Nein?” and “Sky in May”
Dr Samantha Lawler gave a detailed and fascinating technical explanation of what astronomers understand about the bodies in our outer Solar System, discussing theories for their formation. Alan Pickup then gave a wonderful Sky in May presentation which was, as always, full of topical gems of knowledge.
Scotland’s Sky in May 2021
Night skies threatened by growing satellite interference
ASE projects
We started out with the ASE Messier project, have now added the Caldwell and Lunar 100 projects too.
More news
Venus Tablets of Ammisaduqa and Scope Talks.
Dr Bruce Vickery's talk was a fascinating in-depth analysis of the origin and importance of a famous cuneiform tablet describing astronomical observations of Venus. We also had two Scope Talks from Pat Devine and Hugh Somerville.
Missions to Near Earth Asteroids & April Sky Report
Dr John Davies gave an exciting talk introducing us to Near Earth Asteroids (NEO's) and discussed in detail two ongoing sample return missions to NEO's.
Nova in Cassiopeia
Yuji Nakamura (Kameyama, Mie, Japan) has reported the discovery of a possible nova, PNV J23244760+6111140, on March 18.4236. It is relatively bright at mag. 8 and may brighten more so [...]
Comet Tales
We knew it would be good but it was really quite special, our talk from ASE member Prof. Randall Stevenson on Comet Tales.
Meeting report 5th March 2021
A fascinating talk about Edinburgh's local Rocket company by SKYRORA's Head of Launch, Robin Hague followed by a comprehensive tour of the night Sky in March by Alan Pickup
Expanding the ASE Technical Support
To help spread the workload maintaining the website Mark has enlisted some Elves
The Solar Cycle Meeting – All About Sunspots!
Lyn Smith, BAA Solar Section Director, talks Sun, Solar Cycles and Sunspots!
“Losing the Sky”
Andy Lawrence has written a new book - a popular-level polemic about the pollution of the night sky by satellite mega-constellations.
From SWARM to JUNO meeting
Dr Ciaran Beggan of the British Geological Survey gave us a fascinating talk on how magnetic fields work on Earth and Jupiter, and also how missions are expanding our understanding of them.
Ron Livesey
We are sad to inform members of the death of Ron Livesey who passed away on the 25th Jan 2021.
The ASE Messier project
We've started a new project! ASE members are are going to try capturing all of the objects in the Messier Catalogue and gather them on our website.
Navigating the Night Sky
Watch Alan Pickup's brilliant presentation on finding our way round the night sky.
Ask an Astronomer
Is there something you always wanted to know about our universe?
How to observe a planet? Take a photo of the stars? Which telescope to buy? Why is space black? …
Well here’s your chance: just ask your question in the form and we’ll try and get back to you with an answer. The answer may just be: “we have no idea” – but that’s the beauty of astronomy!