Meetings are held on the first Friday of every month at Birnie Village Hall near Elgin.

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Non-members are always welcome and refreshments are provided (for a small donation).

Friday 6th January 2006
The first meeting of 2006 sees the AGM and is a chance to recap on 2005 and to see what SIGMA has planned for 2006.

Following the AGM, Bill Leslie will be giving a talk/presentation following the live Faulkes Telescope session at Going Nova in November, as well as giving us a chance to see some of the fantastic images captured during the live sessions. Weather permitting, there will be an observing session immediately following the meeting.

Friday 3rd Feb 2006
Brian Kelly from Dundee Astronomy Club returns to SIGMA to tells us how the “faint fuzzies” of the deep sky were first discovered and then catalogued.

Friday 3rd March 2006
SIGMA member John Watson returns with the second part of his fascinating insight into orbital mechanics.

Friday 7th April 2006
Dr Martin Hendry, Astronomy Dept at University of Glasgow gives us his views on the moon hoax conspiracy and tells us how his talk went down in the Southern States of America.

Friday 5th May 2006
SIGMA member, Alan Tough’s photographs have amazed us all and now he gives us an insight as to how he creates these extraordinary images using today’s modern technology

Friday 2nd June 2006
Bill Graham from Going Nova will be giving us some insight into the Scottish Space School and showing us just what the students have to achieve in order to attend NASA’s spaceschool.

Friday 7th July 2006
Find out what is available to observe your favourite astronomical objects – from binoculars to telescopes and various other bits in between! There will also be a display from Strathspey Binoculars who are a highly respected local binocular retailer.

Friday 4th August 2006
Jim Skelton from Garmouth will be visiting us to talk about his travelling Camera Obscura. Unfortunately it won’t be bright enough to actually use the camera obscura, but this will be a fantastic opportunity to learn about one of science’s sneaky wonders!

Friday 1st September 2006
SIGMA member Ian Brantingham will be explaining how analysis of the light from a star can tell astronomers information such as the elements within a star, its temperature and even if it is moving towards or away from us.

Friday 6th October 2006
SIGMA member Bill Leslie will be giving a talk on how scientists have worked out the distances of astronomical objects as well as their masses and ages!

Friday 3rd November 2006
Dr Alyson Calder returns to SIGMA with tales from her visit to Star City, Russia.

Friday 1st December 2006
SIGMA Quiz
Following hot on the heels of 2005‘s successful quiz another night of fun is planned!