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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 27/09/2026

Saturn reaches opposition on 4th October. This is when the Earth moves directly (almost) between the Sun and the Saturn. There is an odd visual effect on the brightness of the rings as observed from Earth. It is called Opposition Surge or the Seeliger Effect after its discoverer.

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Jenny Shipway @jennyshipway.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

FIVE days to go! People across the world will be looking up at the starry skies 1-4 October for '100 Hours of Astronomy'. Take a short break, step outside, and join us at 100hours.online to complete four simple stargazing challenges and put a marker on your town or city of our UK/Ireland map.

100 Hours poster, with an image of a young woman holding coffee and gazing up at the stars. She's stood by a public lawn area with houses behind. There's also a picture of a mobile phone showing the app with the four challenge badges, and a UK/Ireland map with pins in it - "Join beginner stargazers across the UK and Ireland. Find the Stars and put a pin in our map"

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 26/09/2026

How can it not launch an amazing day to step out the front door at 6am and see Jupiter and Mars immediately?

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 14/09/2026

Ready to deliver Georgian astronomy outreach at the Jane Austen Festival.

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 13/09/2026

After a day of solid cloud cover and drizzle, I find myself surprised that the Sun kept busy without us. I love using jHelioviewer to make videos from Solar Dynamics Observatory images.

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 13/09/2026

For over 7 years, the favourite activity when out and about on outreach is pneumatic paper rocket launching. Even better when dressed as an astronaut.

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 12/09/2026

A great day sharing the fun and fascination of space with hundreds at Bathampton Village Show. We missed the 100's of Jane Austens in the City Centre but my hat had a Georgian theme.

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 12/09/2026

All set up ready for our final local show of the year. It's never been about a membership drive. Just a little area in a field to spark wonder in minds of every generation who popped along for the Tombola, burnt burgers and Face Painting

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 12/09/2026

Bath Astronomers have visited 10 community fetes this year. The final one this year is today - Bathampton Village Show. Larkhall Fest, WestFest, Combe Down Fest, Saltford Fest, Bath Rotary Fest, Hinton Charterhouse Fete, Odd Down Fest, Batheaston Fete, Wellow Village Show & Marshfield Village Day.

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 11/09/2026

Got my copy of How to Design a Universe by @astroroyalscot.bsky.social . Looking forward to reading it on cloudy evenings when stargazing is not possible. Clear this evening so it will have to wait. Supernovas to have a look at.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Mutuals from twitter times will remember my very dark yrs of Long Covid 😵‍💫 I lost so much, but found a wonderful silver lining to the dark cloud: I decided to use all the time in bed to v slowly write a book. It took 3yrs. I can't quite believe that tomorrow is publication day & Fri is book launch! 🥹

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 02/09/2026

What a lovely surprise to meet @astroroyalscot.bsky.social's mum at an event in Somerset today. It was a celebration of the award of the British Empire Medal to Jean Routley and Ann was with Jean. It's a small world.

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 30/08/2026

Hopefully Nancy Grace Roman space telescope will be able to launch today at 12:26pm during lunch. Coverage starts at 11:18am on SpaceX. Weather is still 50% chance. science.nasa.gov/blogs/roman/... Watch: www.spacex.com/launches/roman

science.nasa.gov

NASA’s Roman Space Telescope: Launch Updates

NASA's live online coverage of the launch of the agency's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is underway. NASA and SpaceX are targeting 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday for liftoff aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy roc...

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 29/08/2026

Starting to get nervously excited by the Nancy Grace Roman space telescope launch tomorrow at 12:56pm May that Falcon Heavy be as accurate as the Ariane 5 rocket (Flight VA256) that sped JWST to Lagrange Point 2. Watch: www.spacex.com/launches/roman Pre-launch briefing: youtu.be/l5OJk1FuEKg?...

spacex.com

SpaceX

SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft.

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 28/08/2026

Smart Scopes are great but sometimes they can be a pain and you can miss the very thing you set out to watch.

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 28/08/2026

Love that Moon and Earth working together

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 28/08/2026

Enjoying the eclipse from a Somerset hillside with a badger

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 16/08/2026

Great to be part of a local village's annual celebration of their community. Marshfield Village, South Gloucestershire. Rockets, Astronauts and Solar Astronomy at Marshfield Horticultural Show and Village Day.

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 12/08/2026

Welcome to National Colander Day. Last celebrated 27 years ago. #LoveMyColander

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 11/08/2026

Taken my colander on holiday to Bristol. Seeing the eclipse safely for those without eclipse glasses

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 11/08/2026

Well that's fun. First time I've been asked to do an interview with the opening line "you must bring your own Colander!"

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 10/08/2026

Nervously walking through busy crowds in Bath. If anyone discovers I'm carrying 200 pairs of eclipse glasses, perhaps the last in the city, it could trigger a riot. Perhaps my astronomer's gait will give me away. The result of years carrying OTAs to outreach events.

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 08/08/2026

Glad to see @gostargazing.bsky.social and @firstlightoptics.bsky.social have smashed their last eclipse glasses record of 48,000 with a cool 100,000. Super happy @bathastronomers.org.uk helped in distributing 7,500 of these to local schools and young peoples' organisations.

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 08/08/2026

I was really hoping for some great sunspot groups around the time of the solar eclipse to really accentuate the Moon's transit but I fear the cupboard may well be bare 😭

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 07/08/2026

It's fun watching the waning Moon sneaking up on the Sun. Just 5 days until the Ninja Moon takes out the Sun.

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 06/08/2026

Had a fun morning up in the Paddocks by Beckford's Tower checking all is ready for the partial solar eclipse next Wednesday evening. Thanks to Netty for being an amazing guide.

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 05/08/2026

Waiting for lunar impact, under clouds, and getting wet fro. The rain. Oddly very happy.

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Reposted by Bath Astronomers

Obligatory #selfie from the East Coast Main Line, rocking the I'm-about-to-sand-your-floors look 😷! Heading back to Westminster to ask MPs for their help in halting the impending catastrophic funding cuts to UK astro and particle physics. #SaveUKAstronomy 🔭

Catherine looking a little tired (it was the Scotland match last night) in a 3M Aura mask with the blurred landscape out the train window.

A view down to Berwick upon Tweed. The sea is in the background, houses in the foreground and a river with an arching bridge crossing it.

Pensive cloudy skies, green meadow, and Holy island in the sea in the middle.

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 13/05/2026

Bath Astronomers are kicking off their Partial Solar Eclipse campaign 3 months ahead of the big event on Wednesday 12th August 2026. The society are looking to supply up to 40 local schools with free solar glasses and guidance for schools on how to train pupils on their safe usage. Going to be busy

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 26/04/2026

Great the buddy up with Bath Space Society at the University of Bath to run an evenings stargazing for all at Brickfields Park, Bath last night. Lots of people seeing different types of celestial objects for the very first time.

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 29/03/2026

Thanks to Skye of Transition Bath for organising last night's #EarthHour in Royal Victoria Park, Bath. It was great to chat about protecting the night sky and then look up into it with 6 different telescopes all lined up and loads of keen visitors. The telescope crew were Martin, Roger and Simon.

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 24/03/2026

Great evening catching up with friends at @bathastronomers.org.uk 50th Anniversary bash. Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell gave a fine talk and I got to catch up with Dr Jen Millard of Amesome Astronomy and Weatherman Walking fame.

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 24/03/2026

Bath Astronomers aka Bath Astronomical Society made it to 50 years. Time to celebrate. Forecast is cloudy over Somerset so good chance the astrophotographers will join us 😜

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 23/03/2026

Back in school today. This time Downside School, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Radstock, to help support their topic To Infinity and Beyond. We spent our time looking for exoplanets, planets beyond those in our precious solar system. Over 7,000 found and no inbound phone calls for ET detected... yet.

Map of Downside School campus. The dome was in the Sports Hall today

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 22/03/2026

The Bath Astronomical Society had its first meeting on Wednesday 24th March 1976. It was held at the Percy Boys Club and the small ad in the Bath Evening Chronicle had mustered quite a crowd. Great things lay ahead for the Bath Astronomical Society. As Bath Astronomers, it is still going strong.

Advert to come to the first meeting on Wednesday 24th March 1976

Front page of the Bath Evening Chronicle on Wednesday 24th March 1976

Report in the Bath Evening Chronicle of the outcome of the first meeting of Bath Astronomical Society

After the second meeting of the Bath Astronomical Society, expectations and ambitions are really high.

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 22/03/2026

A busy weekend of astronomy outreach. Had planned a quiet Sunday but lots of fixing/planning astro jobs to do!!! We've supported Astrofest 2026 by StarQuest in Sutton Veny and run two simultaneous observing sessions. One north of Bath for the public and one in All Cannings, Wilts for brave members.

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 14/03/2026

The losing streak is over... Our drought of public stargazing due to poor weather had reached 17th events in a row but tonight... we smashed it with a big group of happy punters. 5 telescopes and a large pair of binoculars entertained a mix of the public, families and students from the college.

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Robert Massey @robertmassey.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

The RAS will be sending these to astro groups across the UK... They look great on every laptop, particularly in meetings with UKRI and DSIT staff...

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 12/03/2026

A new record. Bath Astronomers have just cancelled its 17th stargazing event in a row!!! All due to the weather. We only count events which are 100% weather dependent. We've still been managing lots of outreach especially during #BritishScienceWeek. Perhaps Saturday night will go ahead. Fingers xx

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 11/03/2026

APPLICATIONS SOUGHT FOR THE 2026 CAROLINE HERSCHEL PRIZE LECTURESHIP Applications are now open for the 2026 Prize Lectureship. Apply by 30 April. Details on the award itself, eligibility, and the application form, are available here: herschelsociety.org.uk/caroline-her...

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 10/03/2026

To Dome or not to Dome? That is the Question. It's #BritishScienceWeek so Dome, Dome, Dome. Just been to St. Michael's Junior School, Bath to bring the edge of the universe a little closer to the classroom for Yr3 to Yr6.

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 10/03/2026

A #BritishScienceWeek visit to a local school, Bishop Henderson, to experience the creation of the solar system as told through Space Rocks. Great sessions with Reception up to Year 3. Showing mind blowing science before someone's told them "it's not for them". Inspiring the next gen scientists

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 08/03/2026

#WalesWestSpacefest was a great success at Aerospace Bristol. Our wonderful volunteers were busy giving talks, running activities and crewing stands. Good to meet so many people: Cardiff AS, Bristol AS, Aerospace Bristol, Herschel Museum, BIS, BAA, Space Detectives, WMA, Space West & Space Wales.

The Bath Astronomers' stand crewed by Mia and Prim with John checking our display

Herschel Museum's Joe and Jonathan just before the doors opened to the public

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Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 18/02/2026

Huge thank you to Paul Newport for his donation of a 10" dobsonian telescope to @bathastronomers.org.uk. This Sky-Watcher Skyliner 250P Flextube will join our range of telescopes used for public outreach. It'll get a little spruce up and collimated and it'll be in action once the clouds clear.

A Sky-Watcher Skyliner 250P FlexTube telescope set up and waiting for the rain to stop

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 16/02/2026

A walk under the stars this evening to count the number of stars visible in the constellation of Orion as part of CPRE Somerset #StarCount2026. Tonight I counted 22 stars inside the rectangle of Betelgeuse, Saiph, Rigel and Bellatrix from w3w.co/worry.tricks...

The constellation of Orion over the hedgerow, taken with a Samsung S20 mobile phone.

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 14/02/2026

Joe, Jonathan and Simon had great fun this evening at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy welcoming guests to an evening under the clouds and chatting about Dark Skies, Elon Musk, and the Herschel family. Bath Astronomers are delighted to support the Museum and continue to be the resident astronomers.

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 14/02/2026

Our fifth decade will be acheived on Tuesday 24th March 2026. Bath Astronomical Society was born at 8pm in a room at Percy Boys Club on the third Wednesday of March, 1976. We'll celebrate with Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell at the Old Theatre Royal Bath. Tickets via bathastronomers.org.uk/50anniversary