Stargazing with the Leicester Astronomical Society
- 22nd Jan 2025
- Author: Elliott Langley - Marketing Administrator
We are big advocates for taking time out of our busy lives to look up at the night sky and gaze at the stars. Nothing quite matches the feeling of seeing the expanse of space spread out above you! But it can be tough to see the stars, or to even know what to look out for, especially if you are new to the field. It is why we have been partnering up with our friends the Leicester Astronomical Society for the last two decades, who have been joining us for Space Lates, stargazing and many other special events.
For this Our Space, I had a chat with Ann Bonell from the Leicester Astronomical Society, about how the friendship between the Society and the National Space Centre began.
What is the Leicester Astronomical Society?
Ann: We are group of friendly and enthusiastic astronomers from beginners to seasoned professionals, which has been going strong since 1952! We welcome people with all levels of knowledge and experience, especially complete beginners. We are a very friendly group, and we meet in the John Eggleston Suite of the National Space Centre, normally on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of most months.
How did the partnership between the Leicester Astronomical Society and the National Space Centre come about?
Ann: We have been holding meetings at the National Space Centre since shortly after the you first opened. The Centre has always felt the most appropriate place for us to meet, it just felt natural to meet under the stars in an immersed in a space setting. Plus, the facilities are good and the staff are always really helpful. Then I believe that we got involved with Space Lates shortly after you started running these, and it is something we very much enjoy.
What happens at a Space Lates event, and what does the Society do there?
Ann: Space Lates take place at the National Space Centre in the evenings and are aimed at people who want to get a bit deeper into space subjects. They are full of guest speakers, live demonstrations, Planetarium shows and, weather permitting, stargazing!
We set up telescopes and binoculars in the car park for Space Lates, or indoors if the weather is wet or cloudy. The best memories are when it is clear, when people can have a look at the Moon or a planet or a star cluster through our equipment. This always results in lots of “wows” from visitors, who might be trying it out for the first time. It gives us genuine pleasure to see others getting excitement out of astronomy! Of course, we cannot control how cloudy it will be, but even when the weather is grotty, we still get set up inside. People are always very interested to come and talk to us about telescopes and astronomy in general. We love the interaction with the public. We are a very approachable bunch, so if you have any questions about astronomy just come and ask!
Have you got any tips for people who want to get into stargazing, and what equipment they might need?
If people want some tips on equipment, come along to Space Lates and you will be able to see a wide assortment of telescopes and binoculars. However, always remember your unaided eye (from a dark site) is the best starting point for a newbie!
What are the best planets to try to see in the night sky?
As of January and February 2025, we are fortunate that several bright planets are on display in the evening sky -- Venus, Jupiter and Mars. Saturn can also be seen, but it is fainter than the others. Uranus and Neptune can be seen through a telescope. We are hoping that, given a cloudless sky, we will be showing all these planets to the public at the next Space Lates on 31 January. Fingers crossed!
Which planets can you see throughout the year?
As the planets and the Earth are all orbiting the Sun (and therefore changing their positions with respect to each other), it is possible to see all the planets over the course of a year for varying periods of time. However, when and for how long varies from year to year, and people should consult a suitable astronomy website, magazine, or app to find out what is visible at the time they wish to observe.
How can people get involved with the society if they are interested?
Leicester Astronomical Society meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of most months at 19:30 in the John Eggleston Suite at the National Space Centre.
You can check out our website or Facebook page for details about the meetings and other activities. You can also drop me an email I will be happy to add you to our email circulation list.
Thank you to Ann for taking the time to speak with me, and a huge thanks to Leicester Astronomical Society for supporting our Space Lates events for so long now. Here's to many more years of stargazing together! 🔭
Check our What's On page for more information about our next Space Lates!
