Updated 29 December 2024 - RP Group Risk Assessment - 18 April 2024
The Astronomy Group meet once a month, which with effect from 2025 will be throughout the year. Usually our meetings are held in the Southwell library where we gather to explore a wide variety of astronomical topics. The sessions always have a theme and can be delivered either by a presentation or a DVD. After a coffee break comments, discussions, thoughts and questions from members are encouraged as we aim to support each other. Most of the sessions are presented by volunteers from the group members, but we also have outside speakers from time to time.
Astronomy is a very fast-moving subject with better telescopes, incredible space explorer probes and highly capable scientists, which together allow us to make exciting new discoveries. We try to keep up to date with all of the recent developments, while ensuring that we present information in a format that is understandable by all. The Internet helps, and we have a lot of interesting links which can be viewed by clicking here (Word document) or here (PDF document).
New members of all ages are very welcome, irrespective of how advanced your knowledge may be, if you find astronomy fascinating and intriguing like we do, please come along and join us.
Sometimes we move away from our library base, indeed in the past we have enjoyed star gazing locally, at Woodborough, plus visits to the Mansfield and Sherwood Observatory and the NT University Dome. We have also travelled down to the National Space Museum in Leicester.
The Sherwood observatory website, which is local to us, is well worth a visit, just click here.
We started as a group of novices, all very interested in astronomy but are now pleased to be expanding and sharing our understanding of this wonderful universe around us, while still encouraging and appealing to beginners.
If you are a beginner and want a gentle introduction to the solar system, I will be running a short course, consisting of two weekly sessions of about 1.5 - 2 hours each, probably in March.
More details will follow later on, but all members of Southwell u3a will be invited irrespective of your background knowledge.
Our planned programme of events for 2025
Jan 2025 The Moon
Feb 2025 The Apollo Space Missions
Mar 2025 Mars
Apr 2025 Venus
A fuller programme will be published and regularly updated as the situation develops.
At some point in the year we hope to have an external speaker from Nottingham University.
We are also trying to plan a group visit to the Mansfield and Sherwood Observatory now that the new planetarium is open.
Finally we hope to invite the popular Alex Dean back to talk more about astrophotography.
Our programme of events throughout 2024:
Jan 2024 Pluto DVD
Feb 2024 The universe - from the beginning through to the end
Mar 2024 Mars DVD
Apr 2024 The birth and death of stars
May 2024 Radio Astronomy
Jun 2024 Milky Way DVD
Sep 2024 Exoplanets
Oct 2024 Astrophotography 2
Nov 2024 Black Holes
Dec 2024 Dimensions and wormholes
A single list of our events since April 2023 can be viewed by clicking here.
Meeting Venue: Southwell Library Leader: Richard Peacock Contact: [email protected]
Meeting time: 10am to 12noon on the fourth Thursday of every month
(The December meeting will be rescheduled to the third Thursday in order to avoid the Christmas period)
The Astronomy Group meet once a month, which with effect from 2025 will be throughout the year. Usually our meetings are held in the Southwell library where we gather to explore a wide variety of astronomical topics. The sessions always have a theme and can be delivered either by a presentation or a DVD. After a coffee break comments, discussions, thoughts and questions from members are encouraged as we aim to support each other. Most of the sessions are presented by volunteers from the group members, but we also have outside speakers from time to time.
Astronomy is a very fast-moving subject with better telescopes, incredible space explorer probes and highly capable scientists, which together allow us to make exciting new discoveries. We try to keep up to date with all of the recent developments, while ensuring that we present information in a format that is understandable by all. The Internet helps, and we have a lot of interesting links which can be viewed by clicking here (Word document) or here (PDF document).
New members of all ages are very welcome, irrespective of how advanced your knowledge may be, if you find astronomy fascinating and intriguing like we do, please come along and join us.
Sometimes we move away from our library base, indeed in the past we have enjoyed star gazing locally, at Woodborough, plus visits to the Mansfield and Sherwood Observatory and the NT University Dome. We have also travelled down to the National Space Museum in Leicester.
The Sherwood observatory website, which is local to us, is well worth a visit, just click here.
We started as a group of novices, all very interested in astronomy but are now pleased to be expanding and sharing our understanding of this wonderful universe around us, while still encouraging and appealing to beginners.
If you are a beginner and want a gentle introduction to the solar system, I will be running a short course, consisting of two weekly sessions of about 1.5 - 2 hours each, probably in March.
More details will follow later on, but all members of Southwell u3a will be invited irrespective of your background knowledge.
Our planned programme of events for 2025
Jan 2025 The Moon
Feb 2025 The Apollo Space Missions
Mar 2025 Mars
Apr 2025 Venus
A fuller programme will be published and regularly updated as the situation develops.
At some point in the year we hope to have an external speaker from Nottingham University.
We are also trying to plan a group visit to the Mansfield and Sherwood Observatory now that the new planetarium is open.
Finally we hope to invite the popular Alex Dean back to talk more about astrophotography.
Our programme of events throughout 2024:
Jan 2024 Pluto DVD
Feb 2024 The universe - from the beginning through to the end
Mar 2024 Mars DVD
Apr 2024 The birth and death of stars
May 2024 Radio Astronomy
Jun 2024 Milky Way DVD
Sep 2024 Exoplanets
Oct 2024 Astrophotography 2
Nov 2024 Black Holes
Dec 2024 Dimensions and wormholes
A single list of our events since April 2023 can be viewed by clicking here.
Meeting Venue: Southwell Library Leader: Richard Peacock Contact: [email protected]
Meeting time: 10am to 12noon on the fourth Thursday of every month
(The December meeting will be rescheduled to the third Thursday in order to avoid the Christmas period)
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At Sherwood Observatory, Sutton-in-Ashfield
Orion - photo by Barry Severn
Think you might be interested in joining this group?
1. If you are not already a member of Southwell u3a but are interested in finding out more about the Astronomy Group and/or would like to attend one of the group meetings please click on this Contact us link. We will then arrange for the Group Leader to get in touch with you as soon as possible.
2. If you are already a member of Southwell u3a and are interested in joining the Astronomy Group you can contact the Group Leader directly, his email address is given above.
1. If you are not already a member of Southwell u3a but are interested in finding out more about the Astronomy Group and/or would like to attend one of the group meetings please click on this Contact us link. We will then arrange for the Group Leader to get in touch with you as soon as possible.
2. If you are already a member of Southwell u3a and are interested in joining the Astronomy Group you can contact the Group Leader directly, his email address is given above.