OASI is a society for people interested in astronomy. We are based at Orwell Park Observatory and Newbourne Village Hall, both situated near Ipswich, Suffolk. Members enjoy a wide range of interests in astronomy and include armchair astronomers, casual observers, and dedicated amateurs with specialist skills in visual and photographic observing, constructing telescopes, public education in astronomy and the history of astronomy.
Events
Mon 23 Mar 2026, 19:30, Newbourne Village Hall, Newbourne meeting - beginners and new members welcome!
19:30 Doors open.
19:45 Sky Notes by Bill Barton, FRAS.
Wed 25 Mar 2026, 20:00, Orwell Park Observatory, General observing for members of OASI.
Mon 30 Mar 2026, 20:00, Orwell Park Observatory, Taster evening. Places must be booked in advance by email: tour@oasi.org.uk.
Wed 01 Apr 2026, 20:00, Orwell Park Observatory, General observing for members of OASI.
Full events list, with contact details for further information.
[1/10] Chairman Andy Gibbs introduces Nik Szymanek, speaker at OASI's second lecture of the 2026 season. Nik provided a fascinating overview of the capabilities of the latest software tools for processing astro-images. 20 March 2026. Photo by Martin Cook. Our next lecture is on 24 April 2026 by Chris Mead, Chair & Secretary of DASH Astro, on Astronomy in Uzbekistan.
[2/10] The carrier rocket for NASA's ESCAPADE mission imaged at a distance from Earth of over 6 milllion km. 18 March 2026. Nigel Evans.
[3/10] Spiral galaxy M106, at a distance of approximately 25 million light years, together with some of the surrounding galaxies. 11 March 2026. Steve McElvanney.
[4/10] A sketch of the solar disk compared with an Hα image. 05 March 2026. Sketch: Neil Morley; image: Steve McElvanney.
[5/10] An aurora seen while enjoying a Saga cruise on the Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea. 02 March 2026. Paul Whiting, FRAS.
[6/10] The giant planet Jupiter and Galilean satellite Io (shortly to move behind the planet). 16 February 2026. Andy Gibbs.
[7/10] A spectacular aurora was widely visible throughout the UK on the evening of 19 January 2026. Many members of OASI observed the phenomenon. L: Mike Such. Top row, L-R: Nigel Evans, Stephen Olley, Jack Gleed, Alexander Lloyd, Martin Cook. Bottom row, L-R: Andy Gibbs, Adam Honeybell, Chrissi Nunn, Richard Knowles, Steve McElvanney.
[8/10] OASI has organised a Christmas meal for members and their guests annually since 1987. The 2025 event, held at the Newbourne Fox on 18 December, was enjoyed by all who attended.
[9/10] The Orion Nebula (M42), captured with a Seestar S50 telescope. 13 December 2025. Martin Cook.
[10/10] Two images of spiral galaxy M33 in the constellation Triangulum. Both captured with a Seestar S50 telescope. LHS: Martin Cook, 21 November 2025. RHS: Andy Gibbs, 23 November 2025.
