Details of future planned events are restricted to those open to the general public (Members should look in the Members Only section for details of any future events not open to the public - which includes most of our local Outreach activities (schools, cubs, brownies etc)

Reports are listed in date order, next planned first. Be aware that dates can change (usually due to the weather :-) ) so please check nearer the event before making a journey (or check our Twitter feed, details on the previous page)

The rest of this page is dedicated to observing reports and aimed at bringing an awareness and appreciation of astronomy to the general public.

(+) 20 Apr 2018 Lyrids - (from Cookham Dean)

(+) 12 Aug 2017 Perseid Meteor Watch - (Ockwells Park)

(+) 26 May 2017 Dorney Common - (observing report)

(+) 12 Dec 2015 Geminids watch - (at Ockwells Park)

(+) 17 Oct 2015 (to 23rd) Orionids Meteor shower

(+) 28 Sep 2015 Super Moon and Lunar Eclipse

(+)  5 Jun 2015 Cookham Dean (after monthly meeting)

(+) 21 Mar 2015 StarGazing Live 2015 - (see Events)

(+) 15 Nov 2014 Public observing and meteor watch at Braywick

(+)  7 Nov 2014 Cookham Dean

(+) 25 Oct 2014 Lunar occultation of Saturn

(+) 11 Oct 2014 Cookham Dean

(+)  3 Oct 2014 Cookham Dean (after monthly meeting)

(+) 10 Aug 2014 Supermoon and Perseids at Ockwells

(+)  3 Jan 2014 Cookham Dean

(+) 13 Jul 2013 Cookham Dean

(+) 13 Feb 2013 Asteroid 2012DA14 closest approach

(+)  6 Jun 2012 Second Transit of Venus

(+)  6 May 2012 Cookham Dean

(+) 21 Mar 2012 Lyrids

(+)  8 Oct 2011 Draconids

(+) 23 Sep 2011 Cookham Dean

(+)  2 Sep 2011 Cookham Dean

(+) 22 Aug 2011 Comet Garradd

(+) 11 Aug 2011 Perseids

(+)  8 Apr 2011 Cookham Dean

(-)  8 Jun 2004 First Transit of venus

(left) Member D. Hanchett uses his ex-gov. balloon tracking equipment to project an image of the sun during the transit

(right) Member Allen D. using a spotting scope (+ chair) with projection box (the 8" 'scope, left of photo, stopped down with black card has an attached video camera)

Venus orbits the sun inside the orbit of the Earth, so you might expect a 'Venus eclipse' (transit across the sun) every time Venus is between Earth and the Sun—which happens about every 584 days (1.6 years).

However the orbit of Venus is 'tilted' - so you only see a transit when the Earth ihappens to be in the right place wrt venus as is crosses the sun - which happens twice, 8 years apart, every 109 years. See here for a more detailed explanation

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(+) 16 Jul 1994 Shoemaker Levy 9 (from Arnes garden)

(+) 10 May 1994 Eclipse from Winter Hill

(+)  3 Jun 1989 Occultation of Sigma Sgr by Saturn

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