July 2018: Finding space rocks – Will Joy
Introduction to meteorites, meteorite hunting and a display of meteorites.
Sept 2018: Hubble’s Variable Nebula – Dr John Lightfoot
Talk by Dr John Lightfoot of the Royal Observatory Edinburgh In the 1920s Edwin Hubble found fame by showing that the Universe was expanding. This was...
Oct 2018: Recording meteors, from deckchairs to desktops – Alex Pratt
Talk by Alex Pratt, BAA Meteor Section Visual observation of meteors has been a popular pastime for amateur astronomers for many decades. Using the n...
Nov 2018: METI Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence – Dr Alan Penny
Dr Alan Penny, University of St Andrews The Primary Objectives And Purposes Of METI International Are To: Conduct scientific research and educationa...
Dec 2018: Making Stars and Planets – The HOYS-CAPS Citizen Science Project
Talk by Dr Aleks Scholz, University of St Andrews. The talk will give a brief overview of the star and planet formation process and detail the scient...
Jan 2019: The role of non-imaging cameras in cutting edge astronomy
Talk by Dr Andrew Dennis, Director of Product Management at Andor Technology. When we think of Astronomy we think of beautiful Astrophotograpy images...
Feb 2019: A Reverend, a soldier, baldness and the unknown: the history and story of Black Holes
Talk by Dr Paul Dalgarno, MPhys PhD CPhys, Associate Professor of Physics at Heriot Watt University . Black holes remain one of the most fascinating ...
March 2019: Dark matter: what is it, and how are we going to find it?
Talk by Professor Alex Murphy, Professor of Nuclear & Particle Astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh FULL: All visitor tickets now allocated...
April 2019: Lochaber to the Cosmos – CTR Wilson and cosmic rays
Talk by Dr Alexander Mackinnon, Senior Lecturer (Physics & Astronomy), University of Glasgow School of Physics and Astronomy. “The study o...
The evaporation of Black Holes: the key to unlock the true nature of spacetime
A very topical subject! Talk by Dr Fabio Biancalana, Heriot Watt University, Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences. “I will describe the f...
Deep radio sky surveys with the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) – and AGM
Talk by Professor Philip Best, FRSE, Professor of Extragalactic Astrophysics, Royal Observatory, Edinburgh (ROE) This is also our AGM. After the tal...
Wandering Astronomers: the past, present, and future of mountaintop astronomy
Talk by Prof. Andrew Lawrence, Regius Professor of Astronomy at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh. Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Edinburgh’...
Happy Birthday Tranquility Base
Unfortunately Dr Richard McCracken is unable to give our September talk on Exoplanets, which he will give another time. Fortunately Dr Alastair Bruce ...
First Steps to Interstellar Probes
Talk by John I. Davies, Senior Researcher & Principium Editor, The Initiative for Interstellar Studies i4is Project Glowworm – near term low...
Alba ad Astra – Scotland is Reaching for the Stars
Talk by Matjaz Vidmar, Postgraduate Research Student (PhD), Science Technology and Innovation Studies, School of Social and Political Science, The Uni...
The Extremely Large Telescope: Science Prospects and Engineering Challenges
Talk by Colin Cunningham FIET FInstP FSPIE CEng, RAEng Visiting Professor, University of Edinburgh, School of Engineering. The European Southern Obser...
Night Light or Night Blight?
Talk by Bob Mizon MBE FRAS (BAA & CfDS), "Bob Mizon examines the origins of light pollution, the problems it causes and potential solutions."
Zooniverse: From Planets to Penguins
Talk by Grant Miller, Zooniverse Project Manager at the University of Oxford.
Space Weather: A Modern Hazard to Technology
Talk by Dr Alan Thomson, Head of Geomagnetism, British Geological Survey. Space Weather describes the variability in the near-Earth space environment ...
Introduction to Astro-imaging part 1 online meeting
We will be holding the first part of this online and it will cover basic imaging techniques. Members can join via Zoom and visitors can watch live on ...
April 3 2020 Online Meeting: Longitude and Clocks
Our first full Zoom online meeting is a talk by Prof Giles Hammond of the University of Glasgow on Longitude and Clocks. Joining URL for members to fo...
ARIEL Space Mission and the ExoClock project
A fascinating talk about an area where amateurs can make a major contribution in what is the leading edge of astronomical research at the moment – e...
Robotic telescopes for astro-imaging
ASE Vice President Peter Black will show us how to use remotely controlled robotic telescopes for astro-imaging. ASE members join on Zoom and visitors...
Neutrinos in Particle Physics and Astronomy – online
Talk by Professor Franz Muheim, Head of the Particle Physics Experiment Group at the University of Edinburgh. Neutrinos are some of the most fascinati...
Ramblings of an astron*ut
"I want to set expectations very low - and then I intend to miss them! I find it's best to disappoint than overburden people with false badgers."
Personal reflections on spaceflight
A talk by ASE member Jim Nisbet. Members will join via Zoom and visitors can watch live on our YouTube channel.
Hunting Outbursting Young Stars (HOYS)
This will be a fascinating talk by Dr Dirk Froebrich of the University of Kent. Learn how you can be involved in leading-edge astronomical research us...
Spaceship 1: Circling the Moon in 1941
Talk by ASE member Clive Davenhall The short German film Weltraumschiff 1 Startet (Spaceship 1 Launches) was released in 1941. It follows the first ma...
All my telescopes & Scope talks
Talks by ASE members Dr Horst Meyerdierks and President Andrew Farrow.
Speed of light and other stellar effects
Talk by ASE member Dr Bruce Vickery Bruce’s talks are always interesting and well-researched if you haven’t heard him before. Don’t ...
ASE Members: Screening of “A residence above the clouds”
We will have Professor Andy Lawrence with us to answer questions. He appears on the film and was very involved in all the 200 anniversary celebrations...
Introduction to Astro-imaging Part 4
This time we will be covering long exposure, deep sky imaging, capture, processing and equipment.
Vitual Pub Quiz, The Sky in June
ASE members only. A virtual Pub Quiz with questions set by Andrew Farrow – a relaxed and informal evening of fun. Also Alan Pickup will tell us ...
Imaging Group June 2020 online
ASE members only Image credit: Fran Goodman
ASE-24 Stellarium scripts and Scope Talks
ASE member Neil Martin will show us the scripts he created for Stellarium to illustrate the ASE-24 objects and how use them. We will also have another...
Exploring Alien Atmospheres
Talk by Dr Hannah Wakeford of the University of Bristol. Hannah currently co-hosts Exocast: The Exoplanet Podcast which is definitely worth listening ...
Astro-navigation at sea
Salty old sea-dog and ASE member Captain Birdseye Jim Anderson will introduce us to the concepts of using Astro-navigation at sea. Be prepared for som...
Three Scope Talks
ASE members Mike McGovern, Tosh White and Peter Black will tell you about their telescopes. Watch LIVE on our YouTube channel.
James Bradley and others FACT CHECKED
Follow-on talk by Dr Bruce Vickery after his presentation on the “Speed of light and other stellar effects”. Watch LIVE on our YouTube cha...
The Lundmark Panorama and Night Sky in July
Talk by ASE member Clive Davenhall I’ll describe the history and creation of the Lundmark Panorama, a famous image of the Milky Way created unde...
BioRock: wee miners in space
Talk by Dr Rosa Santomartino, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Microbial Astrobiology at The University of Edinburgh. Microorganisms such as bacteri...
Imaging Group plus Scope Talk
ASE members only. The usual review of any images taken in the past month plus a discussion of any techniques you’d like to cover. Will include a...
Things that go BANG in the night
Supernovae, quasars, LSST and Lasair. Talk by our Honorary President Professor Andy Lawrence, Regius Professor of Astronomy at the University of Edinb...
Thomas Henderson first Astronomer Royal for Scotland
ASE member Dr Bruce Vickery will tell us about the first Astronomer Royal for Scotland. Watch live on our YouTube channel.
Is Earth Special?
Talk by Professor Dave Waltham, Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London. Watch this talk live on our YouTube channel » Pe...
NASA Parker Solar Probe – talk by the Mission Senior Scientific Officer
Talk by mission Senior Scientific Officer Dr. Nour Raouafi live from John Hopkins University, Maryland
Intro to Astro-imaging Part 5 – Imaging for science projects
Part 5 covers how to use your imaging skills to do real science. We will cover making magnitude measurements and also how to gather data for the HOYS ...
Sky in August and end-of-term chat
Mark Phillips will tell us what to look for in the August sky – this will be on YouTube. We will have a quick overview of everything we’ve...
Imaging Group
Our monthly Imaging Group meeting – for all ASE members only. Image: Comet NEOWISE by Ian Smith
Fast Radio Bursts – An Evolving Cosmic Mystery
Talk by Professor Duncan Lorimer, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University on Zoom and YouTube. We will also have the Sky in September...
Imaging & Observing Group
For all ASE members only. Image: M31 by Nigel Goodman
Gaia: an initial look at 1.7 billion stars in our Galaxy and beyond
Our International member (well Surrey…) John Murrell will tell us about the second data release from Gaia THE GAIA MISSION Gaia relies on the pr...
Virtual Telescope Help Shop
We will have some introductory presentations via Zoom on topics such as: observers checklists how mounts work finders eyepieces observing lists This i...
International Observe the Moon Night 2020
If it’s clear this Saturday, and it’s currently forecast to be, then join us for a live stream of the Moon for International Observe the M...
Sky in October followed by AGM
The Sky In October and some members talks which will be live on YouTube. Following on we will have our delayed Annual General meeting for ASE members ...
Imaging & Observing Group
For all ASE members only. Image: Markarian’s Chain by Mike McGovern
Mars Live Stream – weather dependent
Postponed from 8th. Keep an eye open for the next clear night. Possibly 10th Oct. Date and time are weather dependent but we hope to live stream Mars ...
Choosing a telescope
We have many new members and people wanting to get into astronomy as well as more experienced amateurs wanting to upgrade and do more advanced work. &...
Looking for life on Mars with the Rosalind Franklin rover, Sky In November
Talk by Professor Andrew Coates, University College London Mullard space science laboratory. Principal Investigator (PI) Rosalind Franklin (ExoMars 20...
Imaging & Observing Group Meeting
For ASE members only Image: Cocoon Nebula by Ian Smith
Edinburgh to Hawai’i: the short astronomical career of John Walter Nichol
Talk by Dr Rebekah Higgitt, Historian of science, Principal Curator of Science, National Museums Scotland “The name John Walter Nichol enters th...
Asteroseismology & Exoplanets with the NASA TESS Mission, Sky in December
Talk by Prof. William Chaplin, Professor of Astrophysics School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham The NASA transiting Exoplanet Surve...
Christmas virtual pub quiz
ASE members only. A bit of relaxed fun via Zoom.
The Fastest Eye on the Sky: The Vera Rubin Observatory // Sky in January
Talk by Prof. Aaron Roodman, Dept. of Particle Physics & Astrophysics, Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics & Cosmology, SLAC National Ac...
Navigating the Night Sky
Edinburgh astronomer Alan Pickup will highlight the signposts in the night sky that help to locate some of it’s more prominent features.
Clockwise: (Polaris, Polarscopes and Sundials)
Talk by ASE member Archie Howitt
From Swarm to Juno // Sky in February
From Swarm to Juno – how modern magnetic missions are helping to solve fundamental mysteries. Talk by Dr Ciaran Beggan, a senior research scientist ...
Imaging & Observing Group meeting
All ASE members are welcome to attend.
The Solar Cycle
Talk by Lyn Smith, BAA Solar Section Director “The Solar Cycle” covers a brief history of the solar cycle; a look back at the high points ...
Skyrora – Making Space Sustainable // Sky in March
Talk by Robin Hague, Head of Launch. In 2021 the prospect of satellite launches from Scotland is getting a new level of public interest, as after a de...
Imaging & Observing Group meeting
All ASE members are welcome to attend. Image credit: Greig Louden, widefield Orion’s belt and nebula
Comet Tales: Thomas Hardy, Literature and Astronomy, 1850 to the Twentieth Century
Talk by Randall Stevenson, Society member and Emeritus Professor of Twentieth-Century Literature in the University of Edinburgh. How did the night sky...
Missions to Near Earth Asteroids // Sky in April
Talk by Dr John Davies John will review and present some results from the two recent sample return missions to near Earth asteroids. The Japanese Haya...
Imaging & Observing Group
For ASE members only. Image credit: Mike McGovern, Sinus Iridum
Venus tablets of Ammisaduga and Scope Talks
ASE member Dr Bruce Vickery will tell us more about this topic that he briefly covered in the past. We will also have a couple of short presentations ...
Planet 9 or Planet Nein // Sky in May
Discoveries in the Outer Solar System Talk by Dr. Samantha Lawler, Assistant Professor of Astronomy at Campion College and the Dept. of Physics Univer...
Imaging & Observing Group
For ASE members only Image credit: Pat Devine, Bubble and Lobster Claw nebulae
The Dark Side of the Universe
Talk by Catherine Heymans, Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh.
SALT and SAAO – responding to astronomy in the 2020s // Sky in June // AGM
Talk by Prof. Petri Vaisanen, Director of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Cape...
Imaging & Observing Group
For ASE members only Image credit: Mike McGovern, Clavius
Losing the Sky
Live public discussion with Andy Lawrence, Brian Eno, Catherine Heymans, Mark McCaughrean from ESA, Amy Mehlman from Viasat, and many others.
Spectroscopy – a practical approach for amateurs
Tom Field will explain the science behind spectroscopy and how amateur astronomers can analyse the light from distant objects.
Photometry of short period asteroids // Sky in July
Talk by Prof. Giles Hammond of the University of Glasgow We will also have the Sky in July from Alan Pickup. There are a large number of asteroids whi...
Imaging & Observing Group
ASE members only Image: L64 Radim Stano
End of term, pub quiz, general chat
The end of a busy and challenging year, but a good one. We’ll have a bit of a laugh, general chat and a look back at the highlights of the
The effect of stellar activity on the detection of terrestrial planets
Talk by Prof Don Pollacco of the University of Warwick. Stars undergo activity cycles often lasting many years. During these periods surface phenomena...
Imaging & Observing Group meeting
For ASE members only Image credit: Lobster claw nebula, Pat Devine
Exploring Astronomy and Space Through Philately – an introduction
Talk by Katrin Raynor-Evans The aim of the presentation is to provide the audience with an introduction on the topic of astronomy and space celebrated...
The Venus Tablets of Ammisaduqa – a solution
We have a conjunction of archaeology and astronomy as Dr Bruce Vickery describes a solution to the Venus Tablets of Ammisaduqa. An interesting link be...
How to Get Started in Night Photography
Talk by Mike Shaw. We will also have the Sky in October. This Night Photography 101 presentation will give you everything you need to know to photogra...
Imaging & Observing Group meeting
For ASE members only We will have experienced amateur astronomer Martin Lewis with us for this meeting, showing us how he produces his amazing images ...
ASTEROIDS: How Love, Fear, and Greed will Determine our Future in Space
The biggest industry that could come into being in space is the mining of the asteroids. Enabling this to happen will lead to a new flourishing of ast...
The Accretion and Inner Disk of Pre-Main-Sequence Stars
An insight into some real astronomical research from a professional astronomer. Talk by Dr Justyn Campbell-White from the University of Dundee. Low- a...
Imaging & Observing Group meeting
For ASE members Image credit: Bat Nebula, Pat Devine
A Nightwatchman’s Journey: The Road Not taken
Talk by David H. Levy It will consider the story of my life as someone who fought depression and asthma to lead a life of the night sky, 23 comet
Finding Space Rocks / Sky in December
‘Finding Space Rocks’ offers insight and knowledge to help identify and find Meteorites. The presenter also describes his meteorite hunting advent...
Imaging & Observing Group meeting
For ASE members Image credit: M1 Crab Nebula, Mark Phillips
Thomas Cooke: Telescope Maker to the Empire
Talk by Martin Lunn MBE FRAS, former Curator of Astronomy, Yorkshire Museum, York (The Rambling Astronomer) Born into a poor family, this is a rags to...
Nevil Maskelyne and the global projects of 18th-century astronomy – online only
Note: Online Only Talk by Dr Rebekah Higgitt, Principal Curator of Science at National Museums Scotland. Focusing on the career and connections of the...
Building galaxies one star at a time
Talk by Dr Elizabeth Stanway of the University of Warwick Galaxies can now be seen to vast distances, looking back in time to less than a billion year...
Renovating the 20″ Grubb Parsons Telescope at Glasgow Uni
Talk by Prof Giles Hammond, University of Glasgow. We will also have the Sky in February from Horst Meyerdierks and Andrew Farrow will give a presenta...
Imaging & Observing Group
For ASE members
The Red Sun
Talk by Lyn Smith Lyn Smith is the current Director of the BAA Solar Section and she will take us on a journey through the solar atmosphere or Chromos...
Gamma-Ray Bursts, Black holes, Neutron Stars and Gravitational Waves
Talk by Dr Max Ruffert, University of Edinburgh We will also have the Sky in March from Alan Pickup. Gamma-ray bursts have been described as the bigge...
Imaging & Observing Group
For ASE members. We wil have Bruce Waddington along to talk to us about PHD guiding.
Telescope Help Shop FULLY BOOKED
This event is now FULLY BOOKED so if you haven’t already registered them I’m afraid there are no spaces. You can register for a future one...
HF Meteor Trail Reflections Observed at Anchorage, Alaska USA
Talk by Whitham D Reeve Many interesting phenomena can be observed in the high frequency radio band including meteor trail reflections, radio blackout...
Members Night
An evening of short presentations by and for ASE members. This will be on Zoom for members but on this occasion NOT on YouTube. If you are in Edinburg...
Imaging & Observing Group
For ASE members only
CANCELLED – Creating miniature stars and astrophysical phenomena with giant lasers!
CANCELLED due to COVID. Apologies but we’ve had to postpone this talk. We hope to arrange it for some future date. Talk by Dr Kate Lancaster of ...
Weird New Worlds
Talk by Prof. Beth Biller, University of Edinburgh. We will also have the Sky in May from Alan Pickup. With literally thousands of exoplanet candidate...
Imaging & Observing Group
For ASE members only
Earth Explores Mars: 25 Years of Discoveries
Talk by Emily Lakdawalla. On Zoom for ASE members or live on our YouTube Channel for visitors. Since 1997, Earth has maintained a continuous presence ...
The Moffat Observatory project and IDA Dark Sky / AGM
Talk by Jim Paterson After the talk we will have our AGM. “The mustard seed which grew into an observatory” The talk will cover a little b...
Imaging & Observing Group
For ASE members only. Title: A smorgasbord of new trends, low cost software and pragmatism. With Chris Woodhouse BSc. MEng. ARPS, FRAS Bio An electron...
Fire & Ice: The Volcanoes of the Solar System
Talk by geologist and cosmochemist, Natalie Starkey. The volcano is among the most familiar and perhaps most terrifying of all geological phenomena. E...
Members Night
We will have a number of short presentations from members plus the Sky in July. We will also have the results of our 3rd Image of the Quarter competit...
Imaging & Observing Group
For ASE members only
The Ikarus Observatory – A First Light Optics Community Project
Grant from First Light Optics is going to be talking about version 2 of the Ikarus Observatory a remote observatory project in the South of Spain. Ver...
Imaging & Observing Group
For ASE members only Image credit: M51 Mike McGovern
Discovering and Imaging Planetary Nebulae
Talk by Peter Goodhew In the past 10 years amateur astronomers have made a significant contribution to astronomical research by discovering hundreds o...
The Global Meteor Network: A planet-sized scientific instrument
Talk by Denis Vida With the increased space presence and the prospect of asteroid mining, understanding the near-Earth meteoroid environment is becomi...
Space weather and how it affects ground-based technology
Talk by Gemma Richardson of the Geomagnetism team at the British Geological Survey. We will also have the Sky in October from Alan Pickup. Space weath...
Imaging & Observing Group
Radio Astronomy Workshop ASE members only. Special guest Paul Hearn of the BAA.
Art and its influence on our understanding of the cosmos
Talk by Greg Smye-Rumsby For millenia, art has played a key role in unravelling the mysteries of the cosmos. Stories about the heavens and the positio...
WE ARE GO! Partial solar eclipse livestream
Forecast is partly cloudy so we hope for gaps in the clouds. We will be livestreaming on YouTube the partial solar eclipse using the historic 6-inch C...
The Pluto Story
A talk from Professor Ian Robson, BSc, Phd, FRAS, CPhys, FInstP. Royal Observatory Edinburgh Fellow. In person at the AUC and online via YouTube. This...
Imaging & Observing Group
For ASE members only Image credit: M31 Mike McGovern
What makes a planet habitable? – From life on Earth to life on extrasolar planets
Talk by Patrick Barth, University of St Andrews In the last 25 years we have found thousands of planets around other stars, but so far we were not a...
Going beyond Einstein to understand the Universe
Talk by Dr. Indranil Banik, University of St Andrews. We will also have the Sky in December from Alan Pickup What holds galaxies together? The answer ...
Imaging & Observing Group
For ASE members only Image credit: Soul Nebula in Ha, Eros Tang
Exploring the Invisible Cosmos Through Island Universes
Talk by Dr Jenifer Millard. Did you know that just a century ago, the Milky Way was the entire Universe? Astonishing really, when today there are like...
Claiming the sky back
Talk by Ria Urban, in person at the AUC and online. The talk is going to start be referring back to the “Losing the Sky” talk from a year ago,
Imaging & Observing Group
For ASE members only Image credit: IC1499 – California nebula, Pat Devine
Hearing the Light: Astronomy Data Sonification
Talk by Clara Brasseur, University of St Andrews Sonification is the process of representing data as sound. Rather than looking at a chart or graph, t...
Using computer simulations to model the formation of stars and their discs
Talk by Dr James Wurster, University of St Andrews Stars are the lifeblood of the Universe. They provide light so that we can study the dynamics of ga...
Imaging & Observing Group: Radio Astronomy
For ASE members only With Paul Hearn and others from the BAA
The Last Stargazers
Talk by Emily Levesque A bird that mimicked a black hole. The astronomer that discovered microwave ovens. A telescope that can fly. The science of ast...
FULL Telescope Help Shop 25 Feb 2023
Need help getting started with your new telescope? Our first few workshops were a great success, this is our fifth. Entry is free to ASE members and ...
The Life of a Planetary System
Talk by Dr Thomas Wilson, University of St Andrews Planets, moons, asteroids, and comets have fascinated professional and ameteur astronomers alike fo...
Imaging & Observing Group: Comets with Nick James
With Nick James, BAA Comet Section Director For ASE members only Image credit: Comet Neowise, Ian Smith
The Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory: a new eye on the most extreme Universe
Talk by Dr Roberta Zanin The Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory will be open to the worldwide astronomical and particle physics communities, as a r...
Past meetingsmark2018-07-16T11:04:19+01:00