2026 Programme

Meetings are held on the first Friday of each month (unless otherwise specified) at Alves Village Hall – ideal for routine observing either during or after meetings, with only minimal light pollution.

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Non-members are always welcome – please contact us.

Friday 9th January 2026 *Postponed – will now take place on 16th January*	Equipment Night/Telescope Tutorial “A chance for members to show, or find out about from other members, the different types of conventional telescopes. This also provides an opportunity for you to get help with any problems you’re having with your own kit. The evening will also feature a tutorial on how to set up a telescope and mount, as well as a display of different types of ‘Smart Scopes’ whose owners will be there to explain how they work as well as answer any questions you have. If the weather is kind to us, there will be the opportunity to see the various scopes in action, and to put into practice the methodology from the tutorial session. It will also be a good opportunity for members to socialise!”
Friday 6 February 2026 Dr Ray Palmer SIGMA	The Cosmic Beat: The Discovery, Origins and Significance of Pulsars This talk deals with the serendipitous nature of the discovery of pulsars, how they are formed as a consequence of the natural evolution of massive stars, as well as their significance in our understanding of astrophysics and astronomy in general. It will also touch on how their behaviour has been exploited in attempts to communicate with ET!
Friday 6 March 2026 Richard Oakley SIGMA	A Very Brief History of Lenses This brief talk discuses the evolution of lenses, specifically telescope lenses. It will cover the development of lenses and how they have evolved into complex cellular mirrors, both Earth and space based.
Friday 3 April 2026 Jackie Eadie SIGMA	History of Astronomy This talk will focus on key moments in history which moved Astronomy forward, selecting interesting people, ideas and inventions ranging from Aristotle in Antiquity to Copernicus during the Middle Ages; through Lenses and Light with Galileo leading to Mathematics and Mechanics in the transformative Newtonian period; and not forgetting the inspirational labours of the Herschels and their Leviathon which set scientists, engineers and astronomers on a path towards the unbelievably rapid development of Telescopy, Astrophysics and Space Travel that we are all enjoying so much today
Friday 1 May 2026	AGM This years AGM has been brought forward due to speaker availability
Friday 5 June 2026 Graham Young Dundee Astronomical Society	Thomas Henderson and sizing up the Universe The Dundee-born astronomer was the first person to successfully measure the distance to a star and he became the first Astronomer Royal for Scotland. He was an important cog in the process of measuring celestial distances.
Friday 3 July 2026	TBA
Friday 7 August 2026	TBA
Friday 4 September 2026	TBA
Friday 2 October 2026 Prof. Catherine Heymans Astronomer Royal for Scotland	TBA
Friday 6 November 2026	TBA
Friday 4 December 2026	Christmas Quiz Bring along the family for a night of fun, questions and mince pies to end the year. There will also be the usual Christmas raffle.