Uranus spins on its side. With its spin axis pointing almost at right angles to those of all the other planets, the common explanation is that a proto-planet at least as large as the Earth crashed into the young planet, sending it spinning in this new direction. Giant impacts like these were common events in…
Back by popular demand, Sunderland Astronomical Society are will visiting Northumberland Park). Date: Friday 25th October 2019. Time: from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Entry: Free (Contributions to SAS fundraising nonetheless welcomed). SAS have been asked by the Northumberland Park (the park in North Shields) to hold a Stargazing event on Friday 19th October 2018 from 7.00pm till late.
The Autumn is one of speaker Dave Newton’s favourite times of year for astronomy, thanks in part to the longer, darker nights. Importantly, in Autumn evenings we are looking away from our own galaxy (the Milky Way) and into the deep space beyond. The Autumn constellations have a decidedly watery theme, containing Pisces the fishes,…
SAS Starbeque event at Derwent Reservoir Car Park. Date: Saturday 31st August 2019, Time: From 7 pm until very late, observing afterwards if weather is favorable. Venue: Will take place at at Derwent Reservoir located at our Millshield dark sky site. This is our traditional celebration of the return of darker nights and, as in previous years…
Sunderland Astro Xmas Benker night. Traditionally between Christmas and New Year has been our night (if you attend we will enlighten you on what the Benker Night means?, nothing wrong with an incentive to try to get people to come along. Saturday 29th December 2018 at the Washington Wetlands Centre, from 7.00pm.
The talk will be about the successes, and failures, of the Soviet Space Programme focusing on the story of Sergei Korolev and the Semyorka (seven) launcher and Soyuz spacecraft he designed which are both still in service unlike all the US Apollo hardware which has long since retired. When US astronauts go to the International…
Part of the SAS Summer Workshop series. Is your reflector telescope (not SCT or MAK) in need of collimation? Are you unsure if it does need collimation? Are you unsure how to collimate it? Then expert help is at hand. Richard Graham previous SAS commitee and active SAS member will be running a workshop on…
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…
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…
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: How he has his gear set up, How to take amazing astro images, How to polar align using sharpcap, How to set up…