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 Solent Amateur Astronomers


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Observatory and Open Nights
Timetable of Open Nights - 2023/2024
Dates Open Time On View Moon State
Perseid Opening: Aug Sat 12th
No Back-up
9:30 pm Perseid Meteor Shower No Moon

Aug Primary Dates: Fri 18th, Sat 19th
No Back-up Dates
9:30 pm Saturn, Star Clusters, Double Stars

Moon sets: Fri 21:12(6%), Sat 21:33 (11%)

Sept Primary Dates: Fri 8th, Sat 9th,
Back-up Date: Fri 15th, Sat 16th
8:30 pm Saturn, Jupiter, Star Clusters, Double Stars,
Sagittarius (Tea Pot)
No Moon

Back up Date: No Moon

Oct Primary Dates: Fri 6th & Sat 7th
Oct Back-up Dates: Fri 13th, Sat 14th
7:30 pm Saturn, Jupiter, Star Clusters, Double Stars,
Andromeda Galaxy
No Moon
Nov Primary Dates: Fri 10th, Sat 11th
Nov Back-up Dates: Sat 18th Only
7:30 pm Saturn, Jupiter, Star Clusters, Orion Nebula, Double Cluster No Moon

Back up Dates: Sat, 30% Moon sets 20:38

Dec Primary Dates: Fri 8th, Sat 9th
No Back-up
7:30 pm Andromeda Galaxy, Double Cluster, Orion Nebula,
Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus & Neptune
No Moon

Jan Primary Dates: Fri 5th, Sat 6th
Back-up Dates: Fri 12th, Sat 13th
7:30 pm Andromeda Galaxy, Jupiter, Double Cluster No Moon

Map of Rownhams Observatory Map showing location of Observatory, click on image to enlarge.  Map will appear in new tab.
Online Map of Toothill

The club's observatory at Toothill is located in a relatively dark site just outside Southampton, see map below.

It has reopened to the public on the dates to the left.   You will see that weekend sessions are now arranged in pairs, with a "primary" and a "back-up". The primary will take place, weather permitting, but the back-up will only take place if the corresponding primary sessions were both clouded out. Each session is open ended, we stay until we've had enough or the weather closes in.

No need to book, just turn up.

Members admitted free.  Non-members: adults £5,  children free.

Cash payments only, please. No cards


Toilets and free parking are available.

The observatory contains:

  • 14" Meade telescope
  • 8" Meade LX90
  • 6" Celestron Nexstar SE
  • 20 x 80 binoculars
  • Computer with desktop planetarium

The design of the 14" telescope is such that users remain seated, so it is suitable for wheelchair users.

 


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