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Current Moon

What's the time Now: 03 Jul 09 03:33
sunrise: 04:44
sunset: 21:36
transit: 13:10

Twilight

civil begin: 03:53
civil end: 22:27
nautical begin: 02:25
nautical end: 23:54
astronomical begin: 01:00
astronomical end: 01:00

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Welcome to the Sheffield Astronomical Society website

Next Meeting

Mon 6 July
Who really invented the Telescope?
Dr David Whitehouse
Starting at 19:30
More information about the meeting can be found on this page

2009-04-25 SolDay 75th Anniversay Event

We could not have had better weather for our 75th Anniversary SolDay event. The Sun shone most of the afternoon and we had lots of visitors who enjoyed viewing the Sun.

The Sun is still barren of sunspots but some activity as solar flares were seen.

Members enjoyed a post-SolDay barbque.

The sky stayed clear so we continued to obseve late into the night.
Mercury was the first target which we could easily see as the sun set.

The celebrations ended with the lighting of lanterns.

2009-04-24 SheffieldAS 75th Anniversary

Happy 75th Birthday
Sheffield Astronomical Society

The society was founded on the 24th April 1934 by Sheffield University mathematics lecturer Mr. Reginald Cox. The
subscription was fixed at 2/6d (or 12½p) per year and it was decided meeting would be held once a month except for June,
July and August. The current society has almost 100 members
and holds several meetings every month. Now one of the largest amateur astronomical societies in the United Kingdom we look forward to another 75th years of growth and success.

Society members young and old celebrated this momentous occasion at a local restaurant.

2009-04-05 "Sun Day" at the Botanical Gardens

As part of the 100 Hours of Astronomy event during the International Year of Astronomy 2009 the Sheffield Astronomical setup solar telescopes in the Sheffield Botanical Gardens. Around 300 people pasted through and regular clear skies made the event a great success.

2009-03-19 Time Capsule Retrieved

President Steve Adams showing contents of time capsule

Our society was formed in 1934 and as part of the refurbishment of our observatory in 1982, a time capsule was placed under some steps nearby. This was retrieved recently, just in time as the site is due to be razed and turned into a housing estate imminently. The observatory was dismantled in 1999 due to encroaching trees and security lights.

When the Woolworth's plastic food box was opened, the following items were discovered inside -

Coins: 20p from 1982 and a 2p and a 1p from 1971

Two newspapers: The Star (Sheffield one) from Tue June 15th 1982 and a Daily Mirror of Wed June 16th 1982. At that time the Falklands war had just finished, there were only 3 TV channels and the "Big Match" on the Tuesday evening was Scotland versus New Zealand in the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

An envelope containing the 1982 programme and a full members list. Many of the names were recognised.

A sealed envelope marked " To The Finder". This has not been opened yet but it will be at our 75th anniversary meal in April. News of its contents will be released then...

Amateur Astronomy Societies in the British Isles
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