Derby and District Astronomical Society
[2024]
2025 Meeting Programme
Our 'Main Meetings' and 'Introduction to Astronomy Evenings' are held at the Friend's Meeting House on St. Helen's Street, Derby, DE1 3GY. 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. Our main meetings usually involve a popular level talk by an outside speaker, typically from a university, on some aspect of astronomy or space science. DDAS members may also give talks, and in January we hold an informal quiz. The May meeting is replaced by our AGM, the July meeting by a barbecue at our observatory, and the August meeting by an observing session. Our 'Introduction to Astronomy Evenings' are aimed specifically at beginners, and may include advice and help on using telescopes, finding your way around the night sky, astrophotography etc. There is a room collection for meetings held at The Friends Meeting House, which is £1 for members and £3 for visitors. Coffee and biscuits are available during the break at these meetings, and there is a donations dish for this and we suggest a 25p contribution or thereabouts.
Our monthly observing sessions are held at The Flamsteed Observatory, North Lane, Ashbourne, DE6 1PL, about two miles north of the village of Brailsford. Find our observatory on Google Maps. Our 10" Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain, Altair ED80 refractor and GPCAM under the dome, as well as any telescopes that may be brought along by members are available. During summer months we also have a Lunt Solar Scope available before the sun goes down. Members and visitors alike are also encouraged to bring along their telescope if they have one. Please note that anyone visiting our observatory and site, be they members or non-members, do so entirely at their own risk.
Further details of all meetings may be obtained from our Secretary on 07491 407261.
Date | Title | Speaker | Venue |
January 3rd 7:30 pm |
Society Quiz | Quizmaster: Dave Selfe | The Friend's Meeting House |
January 11th 7:30 pm |
OBSERVING SESSION | - | The Flamsteed Observatory |
January 17th 7:30 pm |
INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY EVENING The January Sky |
Dr Mike Lancaster Derby & District Astronomical Society |
The Friend's Meeting House |
February 7th 7:30 pm |
The Search for Dark Matter | Professor Anne Green School of Physics & Astronomy The University of Nottingham |
The Friend's Meeting House |
February 15th 7:30 pm |
OBSERVING SESSION | - | The Flamsteed Observatory |
February 21st 7:30 pm |
INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY EVENING Telescope Workshop |
Gary Lambert Derby & District Astronomical Society |
The Friend's Meeting House |
March 7th 7:30 pm |
Gravitational Waves: Einstein's Messengers | Professor Robin Jeffries School of Chemical and Physical Sciences Keele University |
The Friend's Meeting House |
March 15th 7:30 pm |
OBSERVING SESSION | - | The Flamsteed Observatory |
March 21st 7:30 pm |
INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY EVENING TBA |
Anthony Southwell Derby & District Astronomical Society |
The Friend's Meeting House |
April 4th 7:30 pm |
New Images of the Universe | Paul Money | The Friend's Meeting House |
April 12th 8:30 pm |
OBSERVING SESSION | - | The Flamsteed Observatory |
April 18th 7:30 pm |
INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY EVENING The Solar System |
Brian Dodson Derby & District Astronomical Society |
The Friend's Meeting House |
May 2nd 7:30 pm |
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING | - | The Friend's Meeting House |
May 10th 9:30 pm |
OBSERVING SESSION | - | The Flamsteed Observatory |
May 16th 7:30 pm |
INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY EVENING The Constellations |
Dave Selfe Derby & District Astronomical Society |
The Friend's Meeting House |
June 6th 7:30 pm |
Space: An exploration of how we got there and where we might be going | Katie Smith Beyond the Pencil |
The Friend's Meeting House |
June 14th 9:30 pm |
OBSERVING SESSION | - | The Flamsteed Observatory |
June 20th 7:30 pm |
INFORMAL EVENING | - | The Friend's Meeting House |
Saturday 5th July 7:30pm |
Society BBQ and Observing Session | - | The Flamsteed Observatory |
September 5th 7:30 pm |
TBA | - | The Friend's Meeting House |
September 13th 8:00 pm |
OBSERVING SESSION | - | The Flamsteed Observatory |
September 19th 7:30 pm |
INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY EVENING TBA |
The Friend's Meeting House | |
October 3rd 7:30 pm |
TBA | The Friend's Meeting House | |
October 11th 7:30 pm |
OBSERVING SESSION | - | The Flamsteed Observatory |
October 17th 7:30 pm |
INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY EVENING TBA |
The Friend's Meeting House | |
November 7th 7:30 pm |
Jeremiah Horrocks - A Very Curious Astronomer | Mike Frost Coventry & Warwickshire Astronomical Society |
The Friend's Meeting House |
November 15th 7:30 pm |
OBSERVING SESSION | - | The Flamsteed Observatory |
November 21st 7:30 pm |
INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY EVENING TBA |
The Friend's Meeting House | |
December 5th 7:30 pm |
TBA | The Friend's Meeting House | |
December 13th 7:30 pm |
OBSERVING SESSION | - | The Flamsteed Observatory |
December 19th 7:30 pm |
INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY EVENING TBA |
The Friend's Meeting House | |
[2024]
Further details of all meetings may be obtained from the Secretary on 07491 407261.
[Top]