Stirling Astronomical Society

Meetings

The next public lecture meeting will be held on Friday 8th December 2023, at The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Dumbarton Road, Stirling, FK8 2RQ from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.

Speaker: Paul Kent (Stirling Astronomical Society) "Remote Collaboration in Astronomy".

The meeting is free and open to everyone, members and non-members.

Evening classes

Our winter series of monthly Evening Classes take place on the first Thursday of each month, from October 2023 through to March 2024.

These will be in the Stirling Highland Hotel, Spittal St, Stirling FK8 1DU from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Next evening class: Thursday 7th December 2023

Contact details

For more information about meetings and activities, or if you would like to become a member please email:

Astronomy news - December 2023

Geminid meteors:
The Geminids will peak this year on the nights of the 14th and 15th December. Viewing conditions will be good, with a young crescent Moon setting early in the evening.

The radiant is approximately one degree north of Castor (RA: 07h 33m Dec: +32.8°)

Meteors will appear to radiate from this point, but will be visible across the whole sky.

The best time to observe meteors will be after midnight from a safe, dark location.

If you manage to capture any images of the meteors, please send them for inclusion in the gallery.

===== Previous News items =====

International Space Station

The International Space Station will be visible in the early evening from the Stirling area in the last few days of November.

Next passes:
25 Nov: 17:14 and 18:51
26 Nov: 18:02 and 19:39
27 Nov: 17:14 and 18:51
28 Nov: 18:02 and 19:39
29 Nov: 17:14 and 18:51
30 Nov: 18:02

On each evening, look for the Space Station low in the south-west. Each pass lasts a few minutes.

Moon and Jupiter 24th / 25th Nov:
This weekend there is an opportunity to see two of the brightest celestial objects together in the night sky.

The Moon and Jupiter will be close together on Friday and Saturday evening this weekend.

Leonid meteors 17th/18th Nov

The Leonid meteors will peak this year on the evening of the 17th/18th November.

This meteor shower occurs every year when the Earth passes through a stream of debris from comet Tempel-Tuttle. The comet has a period of 33 years, and can result in increased meteor numbers every 33 years. In 1966 there was a spectacular display with thousands of meteors per hour.

While meteor numbers are expected to be much more modest this year, conditions for viewing will be good with a young crescent Moon.

Please send any pictures for the gallery.

Full Moon and Jupiter Oct 28th/29th:
This weekend there is an opportunity to see two of the brightest celestial objects together in the night sky.

With Jupiter approaching opposition (3rd Nov) this is an excellent time to view our largest planet. Jupiter is currently visible for most of the night, and binoculars or a small telescope will also show the four Galilean Moons Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.

On Saturday evening (28th October) Jupiter will be joined by the Full Moon. In the early evening they will be less than five degrees apart, with the closest approach (within two degrees) just before dawn on Sunday morning.

Orionid meteors:
The Orionids will peak this year on the nights of the 21st and 22nd October.

Radiant: RA: 06h 21m Dec: +15.6°