Lectures and meetings
Next public lecture meeting: Fri 13 March 2026 19:30, at the Stirling Highland Hotel, Spittal St, Stirling FK8 1DU.
Speaker: Rory MacLeod (Edinburgh) "Music of Space and the Universe"
This event is free to members, and open to non-members with an appropriate donation.
Next members' evening: Friday 27 March 2026 19:30 at the Stirling Highland Hotel.
Evening classes
Next evening class: Thursday 05 March 2026 19:00, at the Stirling Highland Hotel, Spittal St, Stirling FK8 1DU.
All welcome, and the classes are free.
Contact details
For more information about meetings and activities, or if you would like to become a member please email:
Except where otherwise stated, all content on this site is Copyright © 2026 Stirling Astronomical Society.
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Astronomy news - March 2026
Observatory closed
The Observatory at the Highland Hotel is currently closed for repairs to the tower. With apologies, we are currently unable to take bookings for observatory visits. Meetings and evening classes will continue as advertised.
29 March: Twilight occultation of Regulus
On 29 March, Regulus will disappear behind the dark limb of the Moon at 19:19, reappearing just under an hour later. The first part of this occultation will occur in daylight, but by 20:14 the sky should be dark enough to see Regulus reappear from behind the bright north eastern limb between Mare Crisium and the dark crater Endymion.
02 March: Moon and Regulus
The Moon will pass within a few degrees of Regulus on the evening of 02 March.
3-25 March: Moon Phases
3 March: Full Moon (11:37)
11 March: Third Quarter (09:38)
19 March: New Moon (01:23)
25 March: First Quarter (19:17)
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28 February: Moon and M44
The Moon will pass close to the Beehive Cluster (M44) on the evening of 28 Feb. Closest approach will be at 22:08, when the Moon will be within one degree of the Beehive.
26-27 February: Moon and Jupiter in Gemini
The Moon and Jupiter will be close together in Gemini on the evenings of 26 and 27 February, with the Moon also close to Castor and Pollux on the 27th.
1-24 February: Moon Phases
1 February: Full Moon (22:09)
9 February: Third Quarter (12:43)
17 February: New Moon (12:01)
24 February: First Quarter (12:27)
10 January: Jupiter in opposition
Jupiter is currently travelling retrograde below the twin stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini, and will reach opposition on 10 Jan. The next few weeks will be a good opportunity to observe Jupiter, as it will be high for most of the evening.
05 January: Moon and M44
The Moon will pass close to the Beehive Cluster (M44) in the early hours of 5 Jan. Closest approach will be at 02:47, when the Moon will be within one degree of the Beehive.
03 January: Quadrantid meteors
The Quadrantid meteor shower, active from mid-December to mid-January, reaches its peak on 03 Jan. Although the Moon will be close to full, the radiant is a good distance away in Boötes. The best time to observe meteors will be in the early hours before dawn, with Boötes rising in the east and the Moon setting in the west.
3-26 January: Moon Phases
4 January: Full Moon (10:02)
10 January: Third Quarter (15:48)
18 January: New Moon (19:52)
26 January: First Quarter (04:47)
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