Wells & Mendip Astronomers

29/06/2025

Have a wonderful summer holiday.

On the long warm evenings, cast an eye to the sky whilst sipping your Chardonnay and chomping on a slightly carbonised burger. Perhaps you want to know more about what is up there. Visiting your local astronomy society is a great first step.

Come and see Wells & Mendip Astronomers at any of the following:

Sunday 3rd August 11:00 - 17:00 Pop-up solar observing
on Wells Cathedral Green, Wells BA5 2UE

Saturday 6th September 19:30 Talk by Andy Hook 'I found this scope on Amazon...' at Wells & Mendip Museum, 8 Cathedral Green, Wells BA5 2UE

Saturday 11th October 19:30 Talk by Simon Toogood 'Studying Jupiter's Atmosphere with the James Webb Space Telescope'
in Ashwick & Oakhill Village Hall, Zion Hill, Oakhill BA3 5AN

Saturday 8th November 19:30 The annual 'Members Night' at Wells & Mendip Museum, 8 Cathedral Green, Wells BA5 2UE (use side-arch entrance)

Saturday 13th December 18:30 - late The WMA Christmas Party in Ashwick & Oakhill Village Hall, Zion Hill, Oakhill BA3 5AN

Visitors are very welcome. There is a small charge to support the expense of rooms etc Adult - £5; Family rate - £7.50; Students - £3

Members enjoy all the above for free - worth joining. Check out http://www.wellsastronomers.org.uk/ for more information.

22/06/2025

A lovely evening under the star with a BBQ, a few drinks and cake. Conversation, archery, solargazing, and a space quiz kept us busy and very happy.

Looking forward to more Wells & Mendip Astronomers social events in the near future.

17/05/2025

Escape Eurovision on TV this evening by coming to the amazing talk on 'Bad Astronomy at the movies' at Wells & Mendip Museum' hall from 7:15pm (for a 7:30pm start).

Wells & Mendip Astronomers's talk is open to members of the public as well as members. Please come along and say hello. Just grab a ticket through our Billetto page at https://billetto.co.uk/e/bad-astronomy-at-the-movies-by-dr-brad-gibson-tickets-1145619

13/05/2025

Come and enjoy 'Bad astronomy at the movies' on the evening of Saturday 17th May.

Come in person to the lecture theatre of Wells Museum, 8 Cathedral Green, Wells BA5 2UE; use the side arch entrance to the left of the museum.

Retired astrophysicist Dr Brad Gibson is giving the talk. If you can't come and see us in person, you also have the option to join online by obtaining tickets through our Billetto page at https://billetto.co.uk/e/bad-astronomy-at-the-movies-by-dr-brad-gibson-tickets-1145619

Brad is one of the UK's most prolific science communicators and we have tried to choose something a little different from his extensive list of talks. He will join us remotely.

Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm start.

21/04/2025

Our number of Likes reminds me of the prominent wavelength of Hydrogen Alpha which is utilised is so many solar telescopes to see the chromosphere of our nearest star, 656 nanometres.

21/04/2025

It's the peak of the Lyrid Meteor Shower tonight and into the early hours.

Go spot a shooting star and make a wish!!

They'll appear from the north east but can be seen all over the sky. Best numbers should be seen around 45 degrees away from Lyra/Hercules constellations and after midnight.

21/04/2025

International Observe the Moon Night is on Saturday 4th October this year.

The Moon will be 93% illuminated and it'll be arising at 17:44 UTC+1 in Somerset. It'll be 370,464km away.

29/03/2025

Thank you to all the WMA members who came along and supported our solar eclipse pop-up on Wells Cathedral Green this morning. The weather was near-perfect and it was great fun to chat and show the partial eclipse to so many visitors. Here are a few pics from the event, please share more photos in the comments if you have some.

21/02/2025

09/02/2025

Our own Jo Richardson of Space Detectives fame is chief astronomer on Fred Olsen's Borealis cruise ship in Norwegian waters this week, guiding the passengers on the wonders of the Northern Lights and other astronomical pursuits. All thanks to Neill at Go Stargazing (and Jo's talent of course)

09/02/2025

The final day of National Astronomy Week 2025 and it's been amazing. So many new people got to see parts of the Solar System that had until then escaped them.

Day 9 is dedicated to Mars as the Moon and the red planet get up nice and close. From Somerset, its a near miss with closest approach after 6:30pm this evening. In the north of Scotland, above 58 degrees North latitude, there'll be an occultation with the Moon passing in front of Mars. Times vary with location but you'll need to be within a stones throw of John o' Groats or further north.

Why not continue your chase of the Moon throughout the month. The adventure has only just begun.

Images of Mars by Paul Richardson, Bath Astronomers

08/02/2025

As National Astronomy Week draws towards a conclusion we reach Day 8 and the Moon crests over the Constellation of Orion. Follow the 3 belt stars down to the lower left to find the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius. It is the mad scintillating one taking twinkle, twinkle, little star to new levels.

Over on the other side of Orion, you'll find star Bellatrix. So with Sirius (Black) and Bellatrix (Lestrange) you must wonder if J.K. Rowling is an amateur astronomer.

Don't forget to come to the Wells Museum this evening for the talk on ancient astronomy. 7:30pm Sat 8th Feb 2025.