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Meetings and events

Lectures and meetings

Next public lecture meeting: Fri 13 February 2026 19:30, at the Stirling Highland Hotel, Spittal St, Stirling FK8 1DU.

Speaker: Vassilios Spathopoulos "The Astronomy of Vincent van Gogh"

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

Next members' evening: Friday 30 January 2026 19:30 at the Stirling Highland Hotel.

Evening classes

Next evening class: Thursday 04 February 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:

society email

Except where otherwise stated, all content on this site is Copyright © 2026 Stirling Astronomical Society.

Astronomy news - January 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.

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)

new year card