About Redditch Astronomical Society

A Lovely Local Astronomy Society

We are a group of Amateur Astronomers in the Redditch and Bromsgrove area aiming to provide a friendly community for like minded enthusiasts

We currently meet on the first Monday of each month (except August) for member nights and lectures. Meetings run from 7pm until 9pm. As a group we are interested in a variety of astronomy related subjects at all levels.

Previously at Redditch Astronomical Society

Tuesday May 2nd 2023 - 7:00pm

Member talk - de-bunking Flat Earth Theory followed by lighthearted official NASA team quiz : Have yo got what tajes to lead a mission to the Moon?

Tuesday June 13th 2023 - 7:00pm

NOTE: Second Tuesday of Month - TBD

Tuesday April 4th 2023 - 7:00pm

Member talks about the ESA Juice Mission and de-bunking Flat Earth Theory

Tuesday March 7th 2023 - 7:00pm

Martin Lunn A Zoom presentation (contact us for details)
A Very British Meteorite
In 1881 a team of workmen on a railway line near Middlesbrough had a close encounter with an intruder from outer space when a meteorite crashed onto the track. That meteorite has now become known as one of the most important on Earth. Join me to hear the curious and entertaining story of the Middlesbrough Meteorite.

Saturday February 18th 2023 - 4:30pm

Sidewalk Astronomy @ Morton Stanley Cafe

If the sky is clear, bring a telescope and some warm clothes for an evening of sky watching.

Tuesday February 7th 2023 - 7:00pm

Martin Griffiths gives us a talk "Extraterrestrial Contact - How would it affect us?" Martin is Director of the Brecon Beacons Observatory, a public educational resource in the Brecon Beacons National Park and consultant for Dark Sky Wales. He is also a Dark Sky Ambassador for the Brecon Beacons National Park. was a founder member of NASA™s Astrobiology Institute Science Communication Group, active between 2003-2006 and managed a multi-million pound ESF programme in Astrobiology for adult learners between 2003-2008

Saturday January 21st 2023 - 7:00pm

New Moon observing at Morton Stanley Cafe (weather permitting) - watch this space

Tuesday January 10th 2023 - 7:00pm

Open evening - discuss winter imaging options and observing

Monday December 4th - 7:30pm
Inter-society Quiz Night - Bromsgrove Astronomical Society.

Bromsgrove Astro Society hosts the inter-society annual quiz, lead by last year's winners - Redditch Astronomical Society.

Tuesday December 13th [CHANGED DATE] - 7:00pm
Curry and Quiz Night.

Tuesday November 1st - 7:00pm
Open Evening - The Sun and Astro-imaging.

Member talk from Ben about The Sun plus astro-imaging workshop lead by Paul.

Planning Christmas Curry from Rasoi Cottage (orders please)

Tuesday October 4th - 7:00pm
Open Evening - Telescopes.

Talking about telescope setup, lessons learnt from star party, plans for The Hive and British Space Week.

Saturday September 24th - 5:30pm
Star Party - Morton Stanley Cafe.

Join us at Morton Stanley Park at the new Cafe for Side Walk Astronomy.

Tuesday July 5th - 7:30pm

Members and non-members alike are welcome. The new Cafe owners will stay open late to serve hot drinks.

If all goes well, this may be a new 'Dark Site' for the society during the winter and the Cafe will stay open late to serve drinks and snacks before the observing begins.

Elizabeth Stanway - First in person speaker since March 2020.
Building galaxies one star at a time

Galaxies can now be seen to vast distances, looking back in time to less than a billion years after the Big Bang. But interpreting those galaxy observations is not a simple task - often they are small, faint smudges, and information on the stars they are forming and the impact those stars have on their environment has to be extracted by comparing the light we can see to local galaxies and to computer models. These galaxy models have to consider the complex interplay of influences from stars and from the gas that lies between those stars. In effect, we have to build our artificial galaxies one star at a time, and examining the evolution of those stars. This process is known as population synthesis and gives us a profound insight into what physics may explain the light we observe. In this talk I'll discuss my work and that of others on interpreting galaxies, using the combination of cutting-edge observatory data and equally cutting-edge computer modelling.

A brief biography

Elizabeth Stanway is a Reader in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Warwick, where she has been a lecturer since 2011. In the past she has worked at the University of Bristol, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, after completing her PhD at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge. Her major area of research is in the construction and use of stellar population synthesis to interpret the properties of star forming stellar populations across cosmic time. Side interests include the study of astrophysical transients and the dialogue between science and science fiction media.

Location

Windmill Community Centre Small Hall