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.
Charles Cavanagh (ASG) has prepared some observing notes for our Solar System for 2019.
As a member of the Society you are able to come and join us at our Darker Skies site at Mugdock Country park, just outside Glasgow. We meet there monthly from October to March. ASG members bring their own and the society's telescopes for use by the group. This is a great way to learn about the different types of telescopes, and if you're thinking of buying, what better way to 'try before you buy'.
On the occasions when the skies are not clear, we have the use of the lecture theatre at Mugdock, which is very comfortable, with tea and coffee facilities and excellent AV setup to allow us to run presentations and talks on all topics of astronomy. If you're not already a member, then what are you waiting for ... join now and come along to our Mugdock sessions.
All observing night dates, including those at Murdock, are listed on the Observing Dates page, and on the ASG Calendar. You must be a logged in ASG member to view this information.
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 |