The Kielder Forest Star Camp runs from Wednesday 14th to Sunday 19th March 2018.

The Kielder Forest Star Camps are run twice a year, in the spring (usually in Feb/March) and in the autumn(usually in October).

Originally setup and organised by members of Sunderland Astronomical Society(SAS), and now organised by the Kielder Forest Camp Site.

All activities on the main day Saturday are free to attend.

For either the Spring or Autumn Star camps the costs are as follows:

• £15 for a electric hook-up tent-pitch.
• £12 for a non hook-up tent-pitch.
• Prices are per tent-pitch per night.
• There is a minimum 2 night stay and fees must be paid up front.

For more information on the Star Camp on where(directions, etc), when and how much and further information, see our Kielder forest Star Camp web page, and/or the Kielder Forest Star Camp Booking website.

All attendances and pitches for the Kielder Forest Star Camp require registration using the booking form on the Kielder Forest Star Camp Booking website.

Notes:

1. Due to high demand they  no longer have any hard standing or electric pitches available for the Spring Star Camp although we do have non-electric tent pitches.
2. The Star Camp is located  in a mobile phone black-spot area. However, there is a site land-line (if required) located at the shower block.
3. Strict red light rules apply at appropriate the times. So bring relevant red light torches.
4. Laser pointers should not be used on site.
5. There is a Red light warm room.
6. Washing /shower and toilet facilities provided.

If you are interested, please email Lynn at starcamp@sunderlandastro.com and we can put you on the waiting list if any pitches become vacant.

The Sun may appear placid at first glance, but a closer look reveals an incredibly active atmosphere. Some of the most spectacular eruptions in our solar system occur there every day.

Some of these eruptions are relatively small, whilst others occur on a truly colossal scale.

In this talk, Dr Peter Wyper  and will explain a bit about these eruptions and show how researchers such as myself use numerical models to understand them better.

When Who Where

• Date:  Sunday 18th March 2018,
• Time: 7pm.
• Speaker: Dr Peter Wyper FRAS.
• Venue: Will take place at the Cygnus Observatory (WWC Discovery Room).

Our speaker

Our speaker is Dr Peter Wyper FRAS  a is a member of  Durham University's Magnetohydrodynamics in the Department of Mathematical Sciences (Applied & Computational Mathematics: Magnetohydrodynamics).

The Sunderland Astronomical Society AGM will be taking place on Sunday 27th November 2016 from 7:00 pm.

SAS members are invited to attend, listen to chairpersons reports and vote in the election of the committee and nominations are asked from the SAS members.

At the AGM all committee members stand down and members are nominated elected/re-elected.

There are a possible 15 committee places, which includes the named officer posts for the chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, treasurer roles.

If members are interested in being a committee member  or being one of the nominated officers(above), they should send their nomination and the name of the member who is seconding them to the secretary/chairperson. Alternatively inform committee members at SAS meeting-ups.

Both the nominee and the seconder MUST be current members of SAS.

Nominations must reach me by close of day Monday 21st November to be accepted and can be made by either email to the secretary@sunderlandastro.com, or alternatively chairman@sunderlandastro.com

Any items for consideration under AOB should also be received by secretary/chairperson by 23rd November 2016.

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One of the North Easts largest Museums and largest Astronomical Societies have teamed up give the public a truly unique astronomical event, to Inspire, Educate and Inform the public on the amazing show going on above our heads.

Date: Friday 26th January 2018.

Times: from 6:30 pm - 9:30pm.

Price: £5 Ticket Entry (tickets can be booked and purchased via the Beamish website, Beamish Events Bookings).

Event size: 350, so get your tickets asap!

Join local astronomers from across the North East for a fun night of assorted astronomical treats at the several sites at Beamish.

SAS members: who are participating in this event, please contact the SAS chairman, whether you have telescope or would just like to help out/support the event in any way asap.

Event Site map and other related information for participants is shown below (without and with terrain).

We need as many SAS members astronomers & volunteers as possible with & without telescopes to support these events.

High Resolution PDF of the event poster available to download.

• Waxing Gibbous Moon in glorious detail.
• Uranus, seventh planet outward from the sun.
• Globular cluster, double cluster M31.
• Amazing stellar nursery, the Orion Nebula (M42).
• Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
• Gorgeous open star clusters such as “The Seven Sisters” .
• Plus many other wonders of the night sky.
• Ticket Entry: £5 (booking via Beamish website, see what's on webpages) 
• Contributions to Society fundraising nonetheless welcomed.

• Suitable for all ages and abilities.
• 30+ telescopes of all shapes and sizes.
  • Look to the  heavens  through our huge 18.5" Dobsonian telescope, designed & built by SAS
  • Two very large 16" Dobsonian telescopes.
  • Plus many more society members telescopes of all shapes and sizes. 
• Lots to see and do.
• Three designated sites for talks and observing, plus a mobile planetarium.
• Accessible telescopes and transport available.
  • More Information on Accessibility at Beamish.
• Interactive presentations & demonstrations with Q&A.
• Expertise & advice from local astronomers.
• Mobile Planetarium (places booked for extra £1.first come first served).
• Videos and Demonstrations.
• Live View Telescope connected to large TV for group views.
• Complimentary Stargazing friendly torches supplied upon entry at reception.
• Refreshments available to buy.
• Bring suitable clothing & footwear for the weather.

In 2020 the Royal Astronomical Society will be 200 years old.

To celebrate our bicentennial, the Society is establishing an Outreach and Engagement Fund of £1,000,000 to support astronomy and geophysics projects that create a real buzz about science – understanding, discussion and dialogue – in diverse sections of the community.

RAS are asking if you're involved with a local or national organisation that might be able to help, we'd like to hear from you, particularly if you can add to the RAS fund, so that we can make a greater and more lasting impact.

So how about SAS? You interested in contributing? Contact: chairman@sunderlandastro.com.

We were  old that fund is not available for capital expenditure for telescopes and observatories, although there may be some exceptions.

Some of our committee attended one of the Town hall meetings in October 2016.

Deadline date for phase-1 proposal is 9th December 2016 (proposal on 1 page of A4). Could be some funding available for SAS and some very good networking connections to be made.

Theme of Project(s)

What's Happening Next

Membership Benefits

Annual Membership Costs are:

• Single Membership (Adult) £20;
• Family Membership ( 2 Adults, 3 Children) £30;
• Concession Membership (Unemployed/Student/Junior/Senior) £15.

Remember, you do not have to own a telescope to become a member or attend any of our events!

Use the SAS membership forms on the membership webpage.

Alternately, use our online membership system (which utilises PayPal) which will be coming online in near future. Keep an eye on our Membership page.

The Sunderland Astronomical Society AGM will be taking place on Sunday 29th November 2015 from 7:00 pm.

SAS members are invited to attend, listen to chairpersons reports and vote in the election of the committee and nominations are asked from the SAS members.

At the AGM all committee members stand down and members are nominated elected/re-elected.

There are a possible 15 committee places, which includes the named officer posts for the chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, treasurer roles.

If members are interested in being a committee member  or being one of the nominated officers(above), they should send their nomination and the name of the member who is seconding them to the secretary/chairperson. Alternatively inform committee members at SAS meeting-ups.

Both the nominee and the seconder MUST be current members of SAS.

Nominations must reach me by close of day Sunday 22nd November to be accepted and can be made by either email to the secretary@sunderlandastro.com, or alternatively chairman@sunderlandastro.com

Any items for consideration under AOB should also be received by secretary/chairperson by 22nd November 2015.