Useful Weblinks
Here are various websites that we find useful, and we hope you do too.
SIGMA & Affiliated Members Websites and Flickr Galleries
Eric Walker- Beinn View Observatory All Sky Camera
HAS member Eric Walker has installed an all sky camera at his observatory in the Scottish Highland. Live views of the night sky, meteors, northern lights, NLC’s and much more.
Bill Leslie’s website
SIGMA President Bill Leslie’s website. Bill does a lot of lunar imaging. He also does solar observing and imaging using various dedicated Solar Telescopes. (Never look at the sun through binoculars or normal telescopes.)
Alan Tough’s Astro Photography
Long time SIGMA member Alan is a keen astro-photographer, with images of the Aurora, constellations, galaxies and comets.
Pete Sherman’s Astro Photography
Long time SIGMA member Peter is a keen astro-photographer, with images of the Aurora, constellations, galaxies and comets.
Other Astronomy Clubs/Societies
Highlands Astronomical Society
Our sister Club in Inverness and was set up in 1993. Many HAS members have given us some wonderful talks over the years.
Association of Falkirk Astronomers
The Association, based in Laurieston, Falkirk, was founded early in 1999 by a small group of local amateur astronomers.
Aberdeen Astronomical Society
AAS was formed in 1969
British Interplanetary Society
BIS presents a programme of combined technical and social events to connect professionals and enthusiasts in the Space arena.
Astronomy Shetland
This is the website of the original Shetland Astronomical Society – but is now run as a virtual club.
SLOAN Digital Sky Survey
Our April 2023 speaker gave a talk on the SLOAN Digital Sky Survey and has provided various links detailing usage of the data including some Citizen Science ones.
Hubble Space Telescope
About the Hubble Space Telescope
Website of the Hubble Space Telescope
Hubble Image Gallery
Hubble Image Gallery
Hubble Top 100 images
Top 100 Hubble Images
Astronomical “Image(s) of the Day”
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
Each day a different image of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation.
Earth Science
A new Earth Science picture to amaze you each day.
Space Weather eg. Aurora, Clouds
Aurora Watch UK
AuroraWatch UK is a free service from Lancaster University’s Department of Physics. Sign up to this site to receive email alerts when the aurora might be visible from the UK. They also have an Aurora Alert App.
British Astronomical Association
Since1890, the British Astronomical Association has been supporting amateur astronomers. With various sections covering a range of topics – solar, lunar, planets, comets etc.
BAA Aurora and Noctilucent Cloud Section
Through this section of the BAA you can submit your observations of the Aurora and Noctilucent Clouds. Observers reports are placed in the archives of Aberdeen University and may be used in newsletters, reports and technical papers published in the BAA Journal.
NLC Observers’ Homepage
Noctilucent Clouds (NLC) are an unusual and intriguing phenomenon of the Earth’s upper-atmosphere. You can also submit your observations to this site.
Space Weather
This site covers a range of astronomical events – from Aurora alerts, susnspots, solar flares, Noctilucent Clouds, meteors etc.
Space Weather Prediction Center from NOAA
This site covers a range of astronomical events such as Aurora and solar activity etc.
International Space Station Visibility Times
NASA ISS Link
The NASA ISS link for sightings from Elgin – you can set your own location.
Heavens Above
An ideal site for ISS, satellites and Iridium Flare visibility times – you can set your own location.
Position of the ISS
Track the position of the ISS
High Definition Earth-Viewing System (HDEV)
Live video views of Earth from the ISS.
Astronomical Events
Meteor Showers
A yearly guide to meteor showers
Stardate Online
A great site for stargazing tips for each month, as well as a moon phase calendar.
Eclipses
Information on upcoming eclipses.
NASA’s Eclipse Home Page
Information on lunar and solar eclipses, as well as planetary transits and other sky events.
Other Useful Sites
Met Office Weather Forecast
Find out your local weather for up to three days in advance, plus satellite pictures and rainfall radar.
Light Pollution Debate
SIGMA’s written evidence in the light pollution debate.
NASA’s New Horizons
NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto
Atmospheric Optics
Brush up on your sun halos, heiligenshein, coronas, rainbows and much more.
Green Flashes
Learn about this phenomena that is seen at sunrise and sunset.
Astronomy, Science and Physics Guide
https://awen.earth
Matjaz Vidmar AWEN APP -A WALK ENCOUNTERING NATURE
https://www.globalforestwatch.org/
Global Forest Watch is a great example of earth observation data being put to good use, but also in a way that is super accessible to communities, universities and citizen scientists
https://planetarycomputer.microsoft.com/explore?c=-3.4885%2C56.9125&z=5.92&d=landsat-8-c2-l2&m=Most+recent+%28low+cloud%29&r=Natural+color
If you’re keen to dive into something more technical, Microsoft has a fantastic, and much more accessible free archive of up to date EO data that you can browse and interact with
https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/
A 30 year timelapse of Landsat data anywhere on Earth with this brilliant Google Earth Engine tool
https://in-the-sky.org/
A one-stop for whats “in the sky”
https://siril.org/download/2023-09-15-siril-1.2.0/
Astro Image Editing
https://blog.aaastateofplay.com/2022/02/astronomy-resources-for-kids.html
Astronomy Resources for Kids
https://naplab.com/guides/astrophotography-guide/
A Beginner’s Guide to Stargazing and Astrophotography