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.
Chairman's Message
Dear Members,
Happy New Year! If the skies do finally clear, there are some fine sights to observe, with Jupiter riding high, just past opposition and Mars reaching opposition on 15 January 2025. It would be great to hear of your observations.
Our AGM will be held at Newbourne on 27 January 2025, immediately prior to our regular meeting there. All office bearers and committee posts are open to all members to stand for election. The sad loss of two of our committee members in the last two years has highlighted the need for members to step forward to fill posts, so that the Society can continue to thrive.
If you are interested in joining the committee, please inform Roy Gooding r.gooding908@btinternet.com or any committee member.
Thank you,
Andy Gibbs, Chairman.
Events
Mon 27 Jan 2025, 19:00, Newbourne Village Hall, AGM followed by regular Newbourne meeting - beginners and new members welcome!
19:00 AGM, including election of committee and office bearers. All posts are open to all members to stand for election. All members are invited to attend.
20:00 Sky Notes by Bill Barton, FRAS.
Wed 29 Jan 2025, 20:15, Orwell Park Observatory, General observing for members of OASI.
Mon 03 Feb 2025, 20:00, Orwell Park Observatory, Taster evening. Places must be booked in advance by email: tour@oasi.org.uk.
Wed 05 Feb 2025, 20:15, Orwell Park Observatory, General observing for members of OASI.
Full events list, with contact details for further information.
[1/10] At OASI's fortnightly Newbourne meeting on 13 January 2025, members present were able to undertake some ad hoc observing between the clouds and used the Society's Seestar S50 "smart" telescope to image the Moon, Jupiter and its Galilean satellites and Uranus.
[2/10] A conjunction of the Moon and Venus occurred on 03 January 2025. The two bodies came to an apparent angular separation of 1.3° at 17:00. Photos L->R: Stephen McElvanney, Adrian Cubitt, Mike Maran.
[3/10] The nearest large galaxy to Earth, the Andromeda Galaxy, M31, together with its two companion galaxies, M110 and M32. Captured with a ZWO FF80 on AM3 mount with ASI2600 MC Air. Bortle dark-sky scale 4. No filters. Stack of 46x180 s exposures. Processed using only Pixinsight. 02 January 2025. Stephen McElvaney.
More.
[4/10] The
Crab Nebula (M1), a supernova remnant in Taurus. Captured by a Seesmart S50 "smart" telescope. 02 January 2025. Andy Gibbs.
More nebulae.
[5/10] Two views of NGC281, an emission nebula in Cassiopeia. Captured by Seestar S50 "smart" telescopes. Left: 03 December 2024, Stephen McElvanney. Right: 16 December 2024, Paul Whiting, FRAS.
More nebulae.
[6/10] Jupiter shining at magnitude -2.8, presenting a disk of diameter 48 arcsec at altitude 45°. The planet was at opposition on 07 December. The Galilean satellite Europa is to the right and its shadow is beginning to transit the planet, close to the Great Red Spot. 21 November 2024. Andy Gibbs.
More.
[7/10] OASI's 2024 open weekend (25-26 October) was organised to celebrate the 150
th anniversary of the commissioning of the observatory. Alas, the event was not blessed with clear skies. Nevertheless, approximately 80 visitors attended, and had the opportunity to see around Orwell Park Observatory and to engage with members of OASI. A lucky few were able to see some celestial objects through the Tomline Refractor and other telescopes during breaks in the cloud. Our next open weekend will be in 2025, exact date TBD.
More.
[8/10] Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS imaged on an observing trip to La Palma in the Canary Isles. Note the prominent anti-tail stetching apparently in front of the comet, towards the Sun. (The anti-tail is actually old material from the main tail, in a curved path due to the motion of the comet around the Sun.) 14 October 2024. Nigel Evans
More.
[9/10] A geomagnetic storm triggered a spectacular aurora on 10 October 2024. Images T->B, L->R: Mike Whybray, Martin Cook, Andy Gibbs, Bill Barton, FRAS, Neil Morley, Paul Whiting, FRAS.
More.
[10/10] The Sword Handle (or Double Cluster) in Perseus and the Andromeda Galaxy (h and χ Persei and M31). 02 October 2024. Martin Cook. Taken from Whitestone near Banchory.
More.
