Appreciating Starlit Skies in and around Bath

The Starlit Skies initiative is being supported by public observing sessions run by Bath Astronomers and the William Herschel Society. These will give people the opportunity to see their own night sky and impart a little knowledge to help you enjoy them even more.

Sessions planned to date include the following. Click on a particular one to open an event registration form and complete to express your intention to attend. This helps in planning for the evenings and on a first come/first server basis, prevents over subscription:

  • No dates available at present – contact us to organise a new one;

Checklist for attendance:

  • warm clothes
  • stout, waterproof and warm footwear
  • torch
  • binoculars (if you have them)

These evenings involve considerable time outside and it is expected to be cold. It is essential appropriate clothing is worn to enjoy the experience. When considering appropriate clothing, please take into account that you will not be active and so a coat that’s good for brisk walk in that weather is probably not sufficient to keep you warm when standing still.

Feet usually get cold first. Wear stout boots/shoes with at least one pair of warm, long socks; you should still be able to move your toes inside your footwear. Waterproof is best because of dew on grass. Please be prepared to remove muddy boots or shoes when returning to the venue.

Head and hands will be next. Ensure you have a hat and gloves. If you feel the cold easily, make sure your ears are covered. The rest is up to personal preference although windproof trousers and top are a good idea.

Public sky observing can involve getting over some obstacles such as steps, uneven ground or slippery surfaces e.g. mud. In planning, we try to minimise these but when expressing an interest, please advise us of any additional need/consideration; if we are unable to support these, we’ll let you know.

Bring your own binoculars. We won’t be able to give you an individual personal tour but you can take a second look at objects you’ve seen in the telescopes or have a look at the objects we point out. Binoculars are usually described by two numbers i.e.10 x 40. The binoculars will be of use if the second number is 35 or more.