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 or fuddle 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.
The DDAS had a display at the Duffield Carnival on Saturday, 27th June this year. Here we see DDAS members Tony Razzell and Mike Dumelow with a couple of Newtonian telescopes, including the Society's 8-inch 'JK-40' at right. Credit: Mike Lancaster. More pictures from this event...
The DDAS will be holding a FUDDLE on Saturday, 4th July 2025 from 7:30 pm onwards at the Society's Flamsteed Observatory. For fire safety reasons in these ongoing dry conditions, this replaces the barbecue this year. PLEASE NOTE THAT AS USUAL FOR JULY THIS IS INSTEAD OF A MEETING AT THE FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE IN DERBY THE DAY BEFORE. If the skies are clear there may be an opportunity to do some solar observing while the sun is still up, before any night-time observing later. Admittance is free! If you would like more details please email DDAS Secretary
. 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.
OUR NEXT OBSERVING SESSION will be held on Saturday 15th August 2026 from 8:30 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! If you wish to attend a scheduled observing session a booking is no longer required, and you may simply turn up no earlier than the scheduled start time, and someone will be at the site to let you in. Parking spaces at the site are limited however, and in rare cases it may be necessary to ask if you would be willing to park at the Rose & Crown in Brailsford, in which case you will be offered a lift back to the observatory. Parking on the lane outside the observatory during the session is not permitted. For more information please contact our Brian Dodson. 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 THE WEBSITE BEFORE LEAVING.
DR ALLAN CHAPMAN: 1946 - 2026 The Derby & District Astronomical Society was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of science historian Dr Allan Chapman on the 21st January this year. We were very fortunate to be able to welcome Allan to Derby in 2024 for our Society's 50th Anniversary celebrations, to deliver a public lecture on John Flamsteed - Derby's Gift to Astronomy. We also recall his presence at the BBC Stargazing Live Event held at the University of Derby in 2013, in which we participated. Allan also gave memorable lectures at the University of Derby in 1996 and 2004, and some of our members were fortunate enough to visit him in Oxford in 1981 for a tour of the replicas of Flamsteed's astronomical instruments that he had constructed. He was the perfect epitome of a gentleman and a scholar and will be greatly missed. Emeritus Professor Jonathan Powers, formerly Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Derby, shares some personal reflections on Allan here...
MADHUNIKA SRIVATSAN - FROM ENGINES TO ORBIT... Madhunika Srivatsan describes her journey from DDAS Committee member and Rolls Royce engineer in Derby to playing a key role in the Indian space industry. Read about her journey here...
BRECON BEACONS STARGAZING... A number of DDAS members stayed at or near the Aberbran Fawr Campsite near Brecon for several days on and around the weekend of the 27th-28th September 2025, in what has become something of an annual pilgrimage to do a spot of stargazing under very dark skies. Here are some photos from the trip.
FOR THE OBSERVATOR'S HABITATION AND A LITTLE POMPE... A group of DDAS members visited the Royal Observatory in Greenwich on the 9th August 2025, 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 SUMMER 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.
RECENT IMAGES BY MEMBERS A photo of noctilucent clouds taken by Jim Sarsgard at 02:38 am on the 29th June 2026. The Moon taken by Jim Sarsgard on the 23rd June 2026. The conjunction of the Moon and Venus taken by Chris Callaway and also by Tony Razzell on the 17th June 2026. The conjunction of Jupiter and Venus in early June 2026, taken by various DDAS members. M81 & M82 and the Cresecent Nebula captured by Russ Pollard on the 24th May 2026. Images of the sun taken by Chris Callaway on the 29th April 2026. Globular cluster M53 taken by Mike Lancaster on the 23rd April 2026. Galaxy NGC 3718 and the Moon taken by John Hill on the 21st and 23rd April 2026 respectively. Images of the Moon showing Mare Crisium and Petavius etc taken by Chris Callaway on the 20th April 2026.
