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Sunderland Astronomical Society (SAS) was formed in July 1993 by an enthusiastic group of local amateur astronomers. We are one of most active and largest astronomical society’s in the North East with lots of things going on (for e.g. observing, related projects, astro events, meetings, lectures, visits, and outreach), so come on down and take a look.
Our aim is to promote, inspire, inform, empower & advance the awareness & education of the public in the science of Astronomy and related subjects.
SAS in one of the largest, if not the largest and most active astronomical society in the North East.
We support the whole of Tyne & Wear community and North East region with anything astronomical.
We are especially pleased to welcome newcomers into the fascinating study of the heavens.
Regularly provide astronomically themed talks, observing sessions, projects & workshops in schools, at other venues/establishments, within the North East region at our public observatory at the Washington Wetlands Centre.
We run outreach projects & programs that are recognised by NASA outreach.
Especially interested in Schools, Cubs, Brownie and Scout groups of all ages to inspire, empower & learn about astronomy and view the night sky.
See our Events Calendar for all our SAS related events, for e.g. visits, lectures, public outreach, local community engagement events, etc.
We hold meetings on:
All at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Washington, in the Discovery Centre.
All meetings start from 7 pm.
Meetings are free to attend, so you can come along and see if the Society is for you before you join up.
Also to socialize and join in the craic on all things astronomical.
Held in the Discovery Room of Wetlands Centre, and in and around our Cygnus Observatory where our members meet and greet members of the public, potential/new members and show them around and what SAS are all about.
Members also help the those new to the science to get acquainted with their instruments and with finding objects in the night sky.
For more information on SAS activities and other events, see our Society News and/or Events Calendar web pages.
Held in the Discovery Room of Wetlands Centre, where our more experienced astronomers help the those new to the science to get acquainted with their instruments and with finding objects in the night sky.
For more information on SAS activities and other events, see our Society News and/or Events Calendar web pages.
Held all year round, Workshop Meetings are held in the Discovery Room of Wetlands Centre, where our more experienced astronomers help the those new to the science to get acquainted with their instruments and with finding objects in the night sky.
For more information on SAS activities and other events, see our Society News and/or Events Calendar web pages.
On the 3rd Sunday of each month: From September to August each year, lecture meetings are held and feature a talk lasting around 40 to 60+ minutes, either by a visiting professional astronomer or an experienced amateur astronomer.
The Cygnus observatory will be open afterwards for observing if weather is permitting.
For more information on lectures, see our Society News and/or Events Calendar web pages.
Summer Lecture 1: How to take deep sky photos with Chris Duffy from 7.00pm.
Join us for the start of our ‘SAS Summer Lectures’ as our very own Chris Duffy takes you through:
However, this is in no way a guarantee but he’ll try his best :- )
Details
Saturday 20th July 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing and with it comes a fantastic opportunity to celebrate arguably one of humankind’s greatest achievements.
Visit the Cygnus Observatory based at the Washington Wetlands Centre & join the Sunderland Astronomical Society for a an event dedicated to the Apollo 11 50th anniversary.
See the moon in stunning detail through many telescopes and enjoy a tour of the night skies from this welcoming and friendly group of amateur astronomers.
Date: Friday 12th July 2019.
Times: from 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm.
Price: Free Entry (Ticket Booking required)
Details
21st July 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the first moonwalk, when Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on another world.
For a brief period, the Moon became our first outpost in the wider cosmos before the manned missions ceased in December 1972.
In total, only 12 men ever walked on the Moon.
Yet, Armstrong’s ‘small step for a man’ changed our view of the universe, and more, profoundly.
In this talk, Dave Newton reflects upon the Apollo programme, its highs and lows, the scientific discoveries, and Apollo’s impacts on the world that are still being felt today.
Details
Hartlepool born David Sinden was the last chief optician at the Grubb Parsons company. He went on to form his own ‘Sinden Optical Company’.
This talk covers his remarkable achievements in optics and telescopes.
Details
This year there will be 3 main categories:
Skill Level
In each Category (apart from Smartphone) experience Levels:
There will be a winner and runners-up photo will be voted on for each category & skill level.
This year we also have a new Smartphone/Tablet category. This can any image and any experience level.
Also, if contestants would like their astro images shown on the projector during this event (it could even get you a few more votes :-)), please submit your images to the chairman ahead of the event.
The expansion history and large-scale structure of the Universe is a key prediction of cosmological models, and DESI observations will permit scientists to probe diverse aspects of cosmology, from dark energy to alternatives to General Relativity to neutrino masses to the early Universe.
DESI will measure the expansion history of the Universe using the baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) imprinted in the clustering of galaxies, quasars, and the intergalactic medium and will extract cosmological distance information from the clustering of matter and galaxies.
Details
SAS Starbeque event at Derwent Reservoir Car Park.
This is our traditional celebration of the return of darker nights and, as in previous years,
The event is free to attend (members, invited guests & the public) though you will need to supply your own barbeque goodies (for e,g, food, disposable barbies, etc), scopes, etc.
Note: There is now a car parking charge of £1.50 for the night Millfields Car Park.
Details
Images of astronomical objects from ground-based telescopes are blurred by turbulence in the earth’s atmosphere – a phenomenon referred to as “seeing”.
The magnitude of the effect depends on the strength of the turbulence, the size of the telescope and the wavelength at which observations are made.
This talk will discuss how the earth’s atmosphere affects ground-based telescopes of all sizes, how the turbulence strength is measured and some of the methods that can be used to ameliorate its effects.
Details
Visit the Cygnus Observatory based at the Washington Wetlands Centre for an evening dedicated to our nearest celestial neighbour.
See the moon in stunning detail through many telescopes and enjoy a tour of the night skies from this welcoming and friendly group of amateur astronomers.
Date: Friday 15th March 2019.
Times: from 7:00 pm – 9:30pm.
Price: Free Entry (Ticket Booking required)
DetailsRegistered Charity No. 1071527. Registered Office: Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Tyne & Wear.
