Welcome to the website of the Derby & District Astronomical Society (DDAS). We were founded in 1974 and are open to all with an interest in astronomy. We currently number around 50 members from all walks of life and whose knowledge of astronomy ranges from complete beginner to advanced. The society holds regular meetings on the first Friday of each month (except July and August) at 7:30 pm at the Friend's Meeting House on St. Helen's Street in Derby. This period stone building is owned by the Quakers Religious Society Of Friends, and is next door to BBC Radio Derby. Please note that we are not affiliated with the Quakers Religious Society Of Friends, but rent the meeting space from them. This venue may be found on Google Maps. Meetings usually involve an outside speaker, but members also give talks, and the society holds a quiz in January. We also hold 'Introduction to Astronomy' evenings at the Friends Meeting House on the third Friday of the month, and these are designed to cover the basics of astronomy. See below for more information or check out our meetings programme. We are a friendly and, despite our subject, 'down to earth' society. Meetings are a great way for potential new members to see what we're about in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. The social aspect continues after most monthly meetings with a visit to, appropriately enough, The Seven Stars.
The society's Flamsteed Observatory houses a 10-inch Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and Altair ED-80 refractor on a computerised 'GOTO' mount. The observatory is named in honour of England's first Astronomer Royal, the Reverend John Flamsteed (1646-1719), who was born in Derbyshire and attended Derby School. Regular monthly observing sessions are held (weather permitting) at the facility and new people are always welcome. They are usually held on the second Saturday of the month and start times vary with the season. The observatory is located on North Lane, Ashbourne, DE6 1PL, about two miles north of the village of Brailsford, and may be found on Google Maps. The observatory is available for use by individual members at any time after some simple training. A barbecue is held at the observatory on the first Saturday in July instead of a meeting at The Friend's Meeting House that month. The society also takes part in a number of public events and observing evenings during the year, at which members share their enthusiasm for the night sky and bring along their telescopes. An annual trip provides the opportunity for members to visit a different site of astronomical or space interest within the UK each year. Several of our members photograph the night sky and our picture gallery is entirely comprised of DDAS member's work.
DDAS member Russ Pollard captured this image of the Milky Way on the 28th September 2025 from the Aberbran Fawr Campsite in the Brecon Beacons, during the annual DDAS stargazing trip. More pictures...
Our NEXT MAIN MEETING will be held on Friday, 7th November 2025 from 7:30 pm onwards at The Friends Meeting House, St. Helens Street, Derby, DE1 3GY (next door to Radio Derby). Mike Frost FRAS from the Coventry and Warwickshire Astronomy Society and the Society for the History of Astronomy will be giving a talk on Jeremiah Horrocks - A Very Curious Astronomer. For further details please email the , Dave Selfe. Find our meeting location on Google Maps.
OUR NEXT OBSERVING SESSION will be held on Saturday 15th November 2025 from 7:30 pm onwards at the Society's Flamsteed Observatory. View the night sky through our 10-inch Meade telescope, and on screen via our video astronomy setup. Learn the constellations under our rural skies. Need advice on getting into astronomy, or on telescopes, binoculars or cameras? - just ask! DUE TO LIMITATIONS ON THE NUMBER OF CARS ALLOWED ON THE SITE WE NOW ASK THAT YOU BOOK WITH US IN ADVANCE IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND THE SESSION. THIS APPLIES TO BOTH MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS/VISITORS. To book please email the Brian Dodson, who may also be contacted on 07491 407261. Alternatively, you may contact the Dave Selfe (07340 093457). Our observatory may be found on Google Maps. Please note that anyone visiting our observatory and site, be they members or non-members, do so entirely at their own risk. OBSERVING SESSIONS MAY BE CANCELLED AT SHORT NOTICE DUE TO POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS - PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL BEFORE LEAVING IF YOU HAVE SHARED THAT WITH OUR OUTREACH OFFICER OR SECRETARY.
Our next INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY evening will be held on Friday 21st November 2025 from 7:30 pm onwards at The Friends Meeting House, St. Helens Street, Derby, DE1 3GY (next door to Radio Derby). DDAS member Anthony Southwell will be giving a talk on Astronomy Books. For further details please email the , Dave Selfe. Find our meeting location on Google Maps.
FOR SALE... Skywatcher 200 PDS reflecting telescope. Details....
FOR THE OBSERVATOR'S HABITATION AND A LITTLE POMPE... A group of DDAS members visited the Royal Observatory in Greenwich on the 9th August this year, on the eve of the 350th anniversary of it's foundation by England's first Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed of Derby. See an account and member's photos of the visit.
DDAS FUDDLE... On the evening of Saturday 5th July 2025 the DDAS replaced our annual summer barbecue at the Flamsteed Observatory with a fuddle, on account of the tinder dry conditions. The event was very well attended by members and their families, and an excellent range of food and drink was brought along. Photos of the event can be seen here.
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER... On Saturday, 10th May 2025 the DDAS held one of its regular monthly observing sessions at the Society's Flamsteed Observatory, which was well attended by both members and visitors alike. Photos and a brief account of the session can be seen here.
PARTIAL ECLIPSE... On Saturday, 29th March 2025 a partial solar eclipse was visible across the UK, and quite a few DDAS members observed and photographed the event. Here are some of their photos, videos and stories...
ALVASTON PARK STARGAZING ATTRACTS HUGE CROWDS... On Saturday 25th January 2025 DDAS members set up a medley of telescopes in Alvaston Park and delighted many hundreds of visitors with views of four bright planets. Photos from the event can be seen here.
The much anticipated 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF THE DDAS JOURNAL ARIES is now available for download in PDF format here. Thanks go to Aries editor Anthony Southwell for putting together this 41 page bumper edition, and to all those members past and present who contributed to it! Many DDAS memories and recollections are contained therein, as well as accounts of the many events we have held in our 50th anniversary year. We hope you enjoy reading it. So settle down with a nice hot drink and dive into its pages!
DR COLIN STEELE GIVEN HONORARY DDAS MEMBERSHIP Dr Colin Steele, from the Mathematics Department at the University of Manchester, in recognition of the many talks he has given our Society over the years, was given honorary lifetime membership of the DDAS at our meeting on Friday 6th December 2024. More details....
