Whitby & District Astronomical Society

The roadmap to freedom has been laid out by the government, but will we be able to meet sooner ... or later. [Read more about The Way Ahead]

Having ridden with the charioteer-Auriga in last month's edition, this time we are going to take a stroll with the celestial brothers in arms; the heavenly twins of Castor and Pollux, otherwise known as Gemini, one of the oldest of constellations. [Read more about The Heavenly Twins - Gemini]

There will be no formal society meeting in March or April ... [Read more about Spring Society Meetings and Observatory Open Nights. ]

In this month's edition:

• Planetary Skylights 
• Meteors
• March 2021 Sky Charts
• Vesta at opposition in Leo

  [Read more about Sky Notes - March 2021]

Having had a retrospective look back at 2020 last month, it's time to look at some of the planetary skylights ahead in 2021; March to June. [Read more about Planetary Skylights: A look ahead; March-June]

February is perhaps the best month to appreciate the magnificence of the winter night sky. With so many impressive constellations to choose from it's hard to know where to begin. One very important northern constellation sometimes overlooked is located above the 'hub of attention' to the south, and so it is on this group our spotlight shall be directed; Auriga the Charioteer.  [Read more about The Charioteer - Auriga ]

You can still download Paul Money's excellent Night Scenes almanac for 2021, but on PDF or Kindle e book format only. Details are as follows..

Due to the ongoing Covid lockdown restrictions there will be no society meeting in February and most likely March.   [Read more about Society Meetings and Observatory Open Nights. ]

In this month's edition:

• Planetary Skylights 
• Meteors
• February 2021 Sky Charts

  [Read more about Sky Notes - February 2021]

You may have seen in the media some very welcome news regarding the approval of International Dark Sky Reserve status for the two National Parks located in Yorkshire. The status will provide a huge boost to astro-tourism in the area and hopefully prove beneficial for local Astronomical Societies. 

  [Read more about International Dark Sky Reserve Status Approved]

It's been a very different last 9 months, challenging, frustrating, sometimes uplifting. Here then is a brief summary of 2020 from the societies prospective, including highlights of events in the sky.   [Read more about 2020 -A Year to Remember?]

A reminder that Paul Money's excellent Night Scenes almanac is available for 2021, but on PDF or Kindle e book format only. Details are as follows..

Tentative plans are been drawn up for the societies participation in star party events being held in the new year. Whether they will be possible remains to be seen, dependent on the nature and severity of any Covid restrictions in operation.  [Read more about Possible Star Party Events by Late Winter 2021?]

The final planetary highlight of 2020 (and arguably the best) occurred in December, a rare close conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. Fortunately the weather was not uniformly ill-spirited for one of the evenings, with Sunday 20th turning out to the best of the 'conjunction days' and so ...

In this month's edition:

• Planetary Skylights 
• Meteors: Quadrantids
• January 2021 Sky Charts
• Winter solstice.