Due to restrictions imposed by the need to follow Government rules and guidelines on containing the Coronavirus, the Darker Skies meetings at Mugdock Country Park are, unfortunately, suspended until further notice.

When we are back to “normal”, you as a member of the Society will be able to come and join us at our Darker Skies site at Mugdock Country park, just outside Glasgow.  We will meet there monthly from October to March.  ASG members will bring their own and the society's telescopes for use by the group.  This will be a great way to learn about the different types of telescopes, and if you are thinking of buying, what better way to 'try before you buy'.

On the occasions when the skies are not clear, we will have the use of the lecture theatre at Mugdock.  This comfortable theatre, with tea and coffee facilities and excellent AV setup will allow us to run presentations and talks on all topics of astronomy.

Please see the Membership page for information on joining the Society.

2020

Date Local
Time		 Event
Aug 01  Sa 09:47 Moon South Dec.: 24.1° S
  01  Sa   Venus: 45.2° W
  01  Sa 21:14 Mercury-Pollux: 6.7° S
  02  Su 00:30 Moon-Jupiter: 1.6° N
  02  Su 14:17 Moon-Saturn: 2.4° N
  03  Mo 16:59 Full Moon
  09  Su 08:57 Moon-Mars: 0.8° N
  09  Su 14:51 Moon Apogee: 404700 km
  11  Tu 17:45 Last Quarter
  12  We 14:02 Perseid Shower: ZHR = 90
  13  Th 01:59 Venus Elongation: 45.8° W
  14  Fr 20:22 Moon Ascending Node
  15  Sa 14:01 Moon-Venus: 4.2° S
  15  Sa 21:40 Moon North Dec.: 24.2° N
  17  Mo 15:47 Mercury Superior Conj.
  19  We 03:41 New Moon
  21  Fr 11:59 Moon Perigee: 363500 km
  25  Tu 18:58 First Quarter
  27  Th 12:52 Moon Descending Node
  28  Fr 15:06 Moon South Dec.: 24.2° S
  29  Sa 02:33 Moon-Jupiter: 1.5° N
  29  Sa 17:40 Moon-Saturn: 2.3° N
Sep 01  Tu   Venus: 44.7° W
  02  We 06:22 Full Moon
  06  Su 05:42 Moon-Mars: 0°
  06  Su 07:31 Moon Apogee: 405600 km
  10  Th 10:26 Last Quarter
  11  Fr 00:05 Moon Ascending Node
  11  Fr 20:15 Neptune Opposition
  12  Sa 06:25 Moon North Dec.: 24.4° N
  13  Su 01:10 Venus-Beehive: 2.6° S
  14  Mo 04:19 Moon-Beehive: 1.9° S
  14  Mo 05:43 Moon-Venus: 4.6° S
  17  Th 12:00 New Moon
  18  Fr 14:44 Moon Perigee: 359100 km
  22  Tu 07:06 Mercury-Spica: 0.3° N
  22  Tu 14:31 Autumnal Equinox
  23  We 13:33 Moon Descending Node
  24  Th 02:55 First Quarter
  24  Th 20:11 Moon South Dec.: 24.5° S
  25  Fr 07:46 Moon-Jupiter: 1.7° N
  25  Fr 21:46 Moon-Saturn: 2.5° N
Oct 01  Th   Venus: 40.3° W
  01  Th 16:59 Mercury Elongation: 25.8° E
  01  Th 22:05 Full Moon
  02  Fr 18:09 Venus-Regulus: 0.1° S
  03  Sa 04:21 Moon-Mars: 0.8° N
  03  Sa 18:22 Moon Apogee: 406300 km
  08  Th 01:29 Moon Ascending Node
  09  Fr 14:07 Moon North Dec.: 24.6° N
  10  Sa 01:39 Last Quarter
  11  Su 13:27 Moon-Beehive: 2.2° S
  14  We 00:10 Mars Opposition
  14  We 00:57 Moon-Venus: 4.4° S
  16  Fr 20:31 New Moon
  17  Sa 00:46 Moon Perigee: 356900 km
  20  Tu 16:53 Moon Descending Node
  21  We 06:21 Orionid Shower: ZHR = 20
  22  Th 03:00 Moon South Dec.: 24.7° S
  22  Th 18:10 Moon-Jupiter: 2.1° N
  23  Fr 04:49 Moon-Saturn: 2.7° N
  23  Fr 14:23 First Quarter
  25  Su 18:14 Mercury Inferior Conj.
  29  Th 16:13 Moon-Mars: 3.3° N
  30  Fr 18:46 Moon Apogee: 406400 km
  31  Sa 14:49 Full Moon
  31  Sa 16:05 Uranus Opposition
Nov 01  Su   Venus: 34.2° W
  04  We 02:39 Moon Ascending Node
  05  Th 05:50 South Taurid Shower: ZHR = 10
  05  Th 19:30 Moon North Dec.: 24.8° N
  07  Sa 19:34 Moon-Beehive: 2.4° S
  08  Su 13:46 Last Quarter
  10  Tu 16:59 Mercury Elongation: 19.1° W
  12  Th 05:06 North Taurid Shower: ZHR = 15
  12  Th 21:31 Moon-Venus: 3° S
  14  Sa 11:48 Moon Perigee: 357800 km
  15  Su 05:07 New Moon
  16  Mo 13:24 Venus-Spica: 3.8° N
  17  Tu 00:07 Moon Descending Node
  17  Tu 11:24 Leonid Shower: ZHR = 15
  18  We 11:27 Moon South Dec.: 24.9° S
  19  Th 08:54 Moon-Jupiter: 2.6° N
  19  Th 14:57 Moon-Saturn: 3° N
  22  Su 04:45 First Quarter
  27  Fr 00:29 Moon Apogee: 405900 km
  30  Mo 09:30 Full Moon
  30  Mo 09:44 Pen. Lunar Eclipse
Dec 01  Tu 07:46 Moon Ascending Node
  01  Tu   Venus: 27.5° W
  03  Th 01:22 Moon North Dec.: 24.9° N
  05  Sa 01:10 Moon-Beehive: 2.5° S
  08  Tu 00:37 Last Quarter
  12  Sa 20:40 Moon-Venus: 0.8° S
  12  Sa 20:42 Moon Perigee: 361800 km
  14  Mo 00:35 Geminid Shower: ZHR = 120
  14  Mo 11:03 Moon Descending Node
  14  Mo 16:15 Total Solar Eclipse
  14  Mo 16:17 New Moon
  15  Tu 22:23 Moon South Dec.: 24.9° S
  17  Th 04:28 Moon-Jupiter: 3° N
  17  Th 05:25 Moon-Saturn: 3.1° N
  20  Su 02:56 Mercury Superior Conj.
  21  Mo 10:02 Winter Solstice
  21  Mo 23:41 First Quarter
  22  Tu 09:00 Ursid Shower: ZHR = 10
  22  Tu 09:35 Jupiter-Saturn: 0.1° N
  23  We 14:48 Venus-Antares: 5.6° N
  24  Th 16:32 Moon Apogee: 405000 km
  28  Mo 15:03 Moon Ascending Node
  30  We 03:28 Full Moon
  30  We 07:53 Moon North Dec.: 24.9° N

2021

Date Local
Time		 Event
Jan 01  Fr 07:05 Moon-Beehive: 2.5° S
  01  Fr   Venus: 20.2° W
  02  Sa 08:59 Perihelion: 0.9833 AU
  03  Su 14:47 Quadrantid Shower: ZHR = 120
  06  We 09:37 Last Quarter
  09  Sa 15:39 Moon Perigee: 367400 km
  10  Su 20:14 Moon Descending Node
  11  Mo 20:11 Moon-Venus: 1.5° N
  12  Tu 08:18 Moon South Dec.: 24.9° S
  13  We 05:00 New Moon
  20  We 21:02 First Quarter
  21  Th 13:11 Moon Apogee: 404400 km
  24  Su 01:59 Mercury Elongation: 18.6° E
  24  Su 02:26 Saturn Conjunction
  24  Su 21:47 Moon Ascending Node
  26  Tu 15:39 Moon North Dec.: 24.9° N
  28  Th 14:50 Moon-Beehive: 2.4° S
  28  Th 19:16 Full Moon
  29  Fr 00:51 Jupiter Conjunction
Feb 01  Mo   Venus: 13° W
  03  We 19:33 Moon Perigee: 370100 km
  04  Th 17:37 Last Quarter
  07  Su 00:29 Moon Descending Node
  08  Mo 13:39 Mercury Inferior Conj.
  08  Mo 15:34 Moon South Dec.: 25° S
  11  Th 19:06 New Moon
  18  Th 10:22 Moon Apogee: 404500 km
  18  Th 22:47 Moon-Mars: 4.1° N
  19  Fr 18:47 First Quarter
  21  Su 01:44 Moon Ascending Node
  23  Tu 00:12 Moon North Dec.: 25.1° N
  23  Tu 07:38 Mercury-Saturn: 4° N
  25  Th 00:16 Moon-Beehive: 2.5° S
  27  Sa 08:17 Full Moon
Mar 01  Mo   Venus: 6.3° W
  02  Tu 05:19 Moon Perigee: 365400 km
  03  We 23:32 Mars-Pleiades: 2.6° S
  05  Fr 05:11 Mercury-Jupiter: 0.3° N
  06  Sa 00:56 Moon Descending Node
  06  Sa 01:30 Last Quarter
  06  Sa 10:59 Mercury Elongation: 27.3° W
  07  Su 20:45 Moon South Dec.: 25.2° S
  09  Tu 23:02 Moon-Saturn: 3.9° N
  10  We 15:35 Moon-Jupiter: 4.3° N
  10  We 23:36 Neptune Conjunction
  11  Th 01:02 Moon-Mercury: 3.9° N
  13  Sa 10:21 New Moon
  18  Th 06:04 Moon Apogee: 405300 km
  19  Fr 18:48 Moon-Mars: 2.1° N
  20  Sa 04:31 Moon Ascending Node
  20  Sa 10:37 Vernal Equinox
  20  Sa 20:15 Mars-Aldebaran: 6.9° N
  21  Su 15:40 First Quarter
  22  Mo 09:35 Moon North Dec.: 25.3° N
  24  We 10:58 Moon-Beehive: 2.7° S
  26  Fr 07:17 Venus Superior Conj.
  28  Su 19:48 Full Moon
  30  Tu 07:12 Moon Perigee: 360300 km
Apr 01  Th   Venus: 2° E
  02  Fr 03:41 Moon Descending Node
  04  Su 03:08 Moon South Dec.: 25.4° S
  04  Su 11:02 Last Quarter
  06  Tu 09:34 Moon-Saturn: 4.2° N
  07  We 08:15 Moon-Jupiter: 4.7° N
  12  Mo 03:31 New Moon
  14  We 18:47 Moon Apogee: 406100 km
  16  Fr 06:53 Moon Ascending Node
  17  Sa 13:09 Moon-Mars: 0.1° N
  18  Su 17:02 Moon North Dec.: 25.5° N
  19  Mo 02:31 Mercury Superior Conj.
  20  Tu 07:59 First Quarter
  20  Tu 19:25 Moon-Beehive: 3° S
  22  Th 13:16 Lyrid Shower: ZHR = 20
  27  Tu 04:31 Full Moon
  27  Tu 16:24 Moon Perigee: 357400 km
  29  Th 10:17 Moon Descending Node
  30  Fr 22:15 Uranus Conjunction
May 01  Sa 10:37 Moon South Dec.: 25.6° S
  01  Sa   Venus: 9.4° E
  03  Mo 18:02 Moon-Saturn: 4.4° N
  03  Mo 20:50 Last Quarter
  04  Tu 04:01 Mercury-Pleiades: 2.2° S
  04  Tu 22:00 Moon-Jupiter: 4.9° N
  05  We 02:30 Eta Aquarid Shower: ZHR = 60
  11  Tu 20:00 New Moon
  11  Tu 22:54 Moon Apogee: 406500 km
  13  Th 11:29 Moon Ascending Node
  13  Th 18:59 Moon-Mercury: 2.4° N
  15  Sa 23:25 Moon North Dec.: 25.6° N
  16  Su 05:47 Moon-Mars: 1.6° S
  17  Mo 06:59 Mercury Elongation: 22° E
  18  Tu 02:08 Moon-Beehive: 3.1° S
  19  We 20:13 First Quarter
  26  We 02:52 Moon Perigee: 357300 km
  26  We 12:14 Full Moon
  26  We 12:19 Total Lunar Eclipse
  26  We 20:38 Moon Descending Node
  28  Fr 20:21 Moon South Dec.: 25.6° S
  29  Sa 04:01 Mercury-Venus: 0.4° N
  31  Mo 02:22 Moon-Saturn: 4.3° N
  31  Mo 12:39 Mars-Pollux: 5.3° S
Jun 01  Tu 09:57 Moon-Jupiter: 4.9° N
  01  Tu   Venus: 17.5° E
  02  We 08:24 Last Quarter
  08  Tu 03:27 Moon Apogee: 406200 km
  09  We 17:42 Moon Ascending Node
  10  Th 11:43 Annular Solar Eclipse
  10  Th 11:53 New Moon
  11  Fr 02:06 Mercury Inferior Conj.
  12  Sa 05:11 Moon North Dec.: 25.6° N
  12  Sa 07:44 Moon-Venus: 1.6° S
  13  Su 20:52 Moon-Mars: 3° S
  14  Mo 07:47 Moon-Beehive: 3.1° S
  18  Fr 04:54 First Quarter
  21  Mo 04:32 Summer Solstice
  21  Mo 16:57 Venus-Pollux: 5.2° S
  22  Tu 21:54 Mercury-Aldebaran: 6.4° N
  23  We 06:21 Mars-Beehive: 0.3° S
  23  We 07:07 Moon Descending Node
  23  We 10:58 Moon Perigee: 360000 km
  24  Th 19:40 Full Moon
  25  Fr 06:49 Moon South Dec.: 25.6° S
  27  Su 10:30 Moon-Saturn: 4.1° N
  28  Mo 19:38 Moon-Jupiter: 4.6° N

Sky Events Calendar by Fred Espenak and Sumit Dutta (NASA's GSFC)  https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SKYCAL/SKYCAL.html

NASA, through the http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SKYCAL/SKYCAL.html website produce a Sky Events Calendar. To quote:

"SKYCAL (Sky Events Calendar) will help you keep track of the sky by calculating the local date and time of all these celestial happenings. It displays them on a convenient calendar that you can print and hang on the wall. You can generate a calendar for a single month or for an entire year."

For the convenience of members and the public the calendar from July 2018 to December 2018 has been generated. "All SKYCAL astronomical calculations are by Fred Espenak, and he assumes full responsibility for their accuracy. Special thanks to National Space Club summer intern Sumit Dutta for his valuable assistance in developing the Sky Events Calendar (July 2007). Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment: "Sky Events Calendar by Fred Espenak and Sumit Dutta (NASA's GSFC)"

 

Date     Local Time Event
July 2018 01  Su   Venus: 40.7° E
  04  We 06:39 Mercury-Beehive: 0.6° S
  06  Fr 08:51 Last Quarter
  06  Fr 16:59 Aphelion: 1.0167 AU
  10  Tu 00:36 Venus-Regulus: 1° N
  10  Tu 10:30 Moon-Aldebaran: 1.1° S
  12  Th 05:59 Mercury Elongation: 26.4° E
  12  Th 13:01 Moon North Dec.: 20.8° N
  13  Fr 03:48 New Moon
  13  Fr 04:01 Partial Solar Eclipse
  13  Fr 09:28 Moon Perigee: 357400 km
  14  Sa 03:50 Moon Ascending Node
  14  Sa 23:04 Moon-Mercury: 2.2° S
  15  Su 17:14 Moon-Regulus: 1.7° S
  16  Mo 04:31 Moon-Venus: 1.6° S
  19  Th 20:52 First Quarter
  21  Sa 00:57 Moon-Jupiter: 4.8° S
  25  We 07:10 Moon-Saturn: 2.2° S
  25  We 21:55 Moon South Dec.: 20.8° S
  27  Fr 06:31 Mars Opposition
  27  Fr 06:44 Moon Apogee: 406200 km
  27  Fr 21:21 Full Moon
  27  Fr 21:22 Total Lunar Eclipse
  27  Fr 23:40 Moon Descending Node
  28  Sa 09:50 Delta Aquarid Shower: ZHR = 20
August 2018 01  We   Venus: 45.1° E
  04  Sa 19:18 Last Quarter
  06  Mo 19:35 Moon-Aldebaran: 1.1° S
  08  We 23:33 Moon North Dec.: 20.8° N
  09  Th 02:59 Mercury Inferior Conj.
  10  Fr 14:40 Moon Ascending Node
  10  Fr 19:05 Moon Perigee: 358100 km
  11  Sa 10:47 Partial Solar Eclipse
  11  Sa 10:58 New Moon
  13  Mo 01:44 Perseid Shower: ZHR = 90
  14  Tu 14:35 Moon-Venus: 6.4° S
  17  Fr 11:38 Moon-Jupiter: 4.8° S
  17  Fr 16:59 Venus Elongation: 45.9° E
  18  Sa 08:49 First Quarter
  21  Tu 03:07 Mercury-Beehive: 5.9° S
  21  Tu 10:55 Moon-Saturn: 2.4° S
  22  We 03:58 Moon South Dec.: 20.8° S
  23  Th 12:23 Moon Apogee: 405700 km
  24  Fr 05:51 Moon Descending Node
  26  Su 12:56 Full Moon
  26  Su 20:59 Mercury Elongation: 18.3° W
September 2018 01  Sa 05:45 Venus-Spica: 1.2° S
  01  Sa   Venus: 45° E
  03  Mo 02:34 Moon-Aldebaran: 1.2° S
  03  Mo 03:37 Last Quarter
  05  We 07:56 Moon North Dec.: 20.8° N
  06  Th 23:42 Moon Ascending Node
  07  Fr 03:13 Moon-Beehive: 1.4° N
  07  Fr 18:19 Neptune Opposition
  08  Sa 02:21 Moon Perigee: 361400 km
  09  Su 19:01 New Moon
  14  Fr 03:21 Moon-Jupiter: 4.6° S
  17  Mo 00:15 First Quarter
  17  Mo 17:46 Moon-Saturn: 2.3° S
  18  Tu 10:35 Moon South Dec.: 20.9° S
  20  Th 01:54 Moon Apogee: 404900 km
  20  Th 10:30 Moon Descending Node
  21  Fr 02:47 Mercury Superior Conj.
  23  Su 02:54 Autumnal Equinox
  25  Tu 03:53 Full Moon
  30  Su 08:06 Moon-Aldebaran: 1.4° S
October 2018 01  Mo   Venus: 32.9° E
  02  Tu 10:45 Last Quarter
  02  Tu 14:03 Moon North Dec.: 21° N
  04  Th 04:10 Moon Ascending Node
  04  Th 10:51 Moon-Beehive: 1.3° N
  05  Fr 22:58 Moon-Regulus: 1.9° S
  05  Fr 23:29 Moon Perigee: 366400 km
  09  Tu 04:47 New Moon
  11  Th 22:21 Moon-Jupiter: 4.3° S
  15  Mo 04:01 Moon-Saturn: 2° S
  15  Mo 18:26 Moon South Dec.: 21.2° S
  16  Tu 03:32 Mercury-Venus: 6.2° N
  16  Tu 19:02 First Quarter
  17  We 13:03 Moon Descending Node
  17  We 20:16 Moon Apogee: 404200 km
  18  Th 14:01 Moon-Mars: 2.2° S
  21  Su 18:03 Orionid Shower: ZHR = 20
  24  We 01:43 Uranus Opposition
  24  We 17:45 Full Moon
  26  Fr 15:13 Venus Inferior Conj.
  27  Sa 14:04 Moon-Aldebaran: 1.6° S
  29  Mo 06:28 Mercury-Jupiter: 3.1° N
  29  Mo 18:34 Moon North Dec.: 21.3° N
  31  We 03:46 Moon Ascending Node
  31  We 15:24 Moon-Beehive: 1° N
  31  We 16:40 Last Quarter
  31  We 20:05 Moon Perigee: 370200 km
November 2018 01  Th   Venus: 10.6° W
  02  Fr 04:16 Moon-Regulus: 2.1° S
  05  Mo 17:31 South Taurid Shower: ZHR = 10
  06  Tu 14:59 Mercury Elongation: 23.3° E
  07  We 16:02 New Moon
  09  Fr 04:56 Mercury-Antares: 1.8° N
  11  Su 15:46 Moon-Saturn: 1.6° S
  12  Mo 02:21 Moon South Dec.: 21.4° S
  12  Mo 16:48 North Taurid Shower: ZHR = 15
  13  Tu 14:04 Moon Descending Node
  14  We 15:57 Moon Apogee: 404300 km
  14  We 23:23 Venus-Spica: 1.5° S
  15  Th 14:54 First Quarter
  16  Fr 04:16 Moon-Mars: 1.1° N
  17  Sa 23:05 Leonid Shower: ZHR = 15
  23  Fr 05:39 Full Moon
  23  Fr 21:11 Moon-Aldebaran: 1.7° S
  26  Mo 01:48 Moon North Dec.: 21.5° N
  26  Mo 06:25 Jupiter Conjunction
  26  Mo 12:10 Moon Perigee: 366600 km
  27  Tu 05:18 Moon Ascending Node
  27  Tu 09:10 Mercury Inferior Conj.
  27  Tu 20:57 Moon-Beehive: 0.8° N
  29  Th 09:27 Moon-Regulus: 2.4° S
  30  Fr 00:19 Last Quarter
December 2018 01  Sa   Venus: 39.9° W
  03  Mo 18:42 Moon-Venus: 3.8° S
  07  Fr 07:20 New Moon
  09  Su 05:30 Moon-Saturn: 1.2° S
  09  Su 11:12 Moon South Dec.: 21.5° S
  10  Mo 17:57 Moon Descending Node
  12  We 12:25 Moon Apogee: 405200 km
  14  Fr 12:16 Geminid Shower: ZHR = 120
  14  Fr 23:21 Moon-Mars: 3.9° N
  15  Sa 10:59 Mercury Elongation: 21.3° W
  15  Sa 11:49 First Quarter
  21  Fr 07:31 Moon-Aldebaran: 1.7° S
  21  Fr 19:49 Mercury-Jupiter: 0.8° N
  21  Fr 22:22 Winter Solstice
  22  Sa 08:03 Mercury-Antares: 6° N
  22  Sa 15:08 Jupiter-Antares: 5.2° N
  22  Sa 17:49 Full Moon
  22  Sa 21:00 Ursid Shower: ZHR = 10
  23  Su 11:48 Moon North Dec.: 21.6° N
  24  Mo 09:52 Moon Perigee: 361100 km
  24  Mo 11:54 Moon Ascending Node
  25  Tu 04:52 Moon-Beehive: 0.6° N
  26  We 16:06 Moon-Regulus: 2.5° S
  29  Sa 09:34 Last Quarter

 

 

Prior to some of the public lectures, we have an Observing Section talk, the purpose of which is to highlight topical items of interest in the night sky over the following few weeks - planets that will be above the horizon, nebulae, interesting stars and asterisms, etc.

Delivered by the supremely knowledgeable Charles Cavanagh, for the 2018 - 2019 session these talks are scheduled for:

  • Thursday 18th October
  • Thursday 20th December
  • Thursday 21st March
  • Thursday 16th May

In each case, the talk starts promptly at 6:45 pm, with the aim of finishing in good time for the following scheduled lecture.

Recently, Charles prepared a short note about Observing our Solar System in 2019.

The talks are generally be held in Room 6.41, Royal College, Strathclyde University.  Access is via the Montrose Street entrance, take the lift to Level 3, exit the lift (turning left) and take the 2nd (furthest away) set of steps, and go through the double glass doors.  Room 6.41 is on your left approximately half way along the corridor.