Orwell Park Mansion and Observatory
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Welcome

OASI is a society for people interested in astronomy. We are based at Orwell Park Observatory and Newbourne Village Hall, both situated near Ipswich, Suffolk. Members enjoy a wide range of interests in astronomy and include armchair astronomers, casual observers, and dedicated amateurs with specialist skills in visual and photographic observing, constructing telescopes, public education in astronomy and the history of astronomy.

Email for more information: info@oasi.org.uk

Newsletter

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Back editions.

 

Night Sky Notes

Current edition.

Back editions.

Observatory Visits

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Visit Orwell Park Observatory and see the historic Tomline Refractor.

Membership

Join OASI or renew membership.

Events

Mon 11 Nov 2024, 19:30, Newbourne Village Hall, Newbourne meeting - beginners and new members welcome!

Wed 13 Nov 2024, 20:15, Orwell Park Observatory, General observing for members of OASI.

Wed 20 Nov 2024, 20:15, Orwell Park Observatory, General observing for members of OASI.

Thu 21 Nov 2024, 20:00, Zoom, Monthly Zoom meeting.

Full events list, with contact details for further information.

 

Recent activities and observations

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[1/12]   Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS achieved naked eye visibility in mid-October 2024 and remained visible with a small telescope for several days thereafter. 31 October 2024. Stephen McElvanney More.
[2/12]   OASI's 2024 open weekend was organised to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the commissioning of the observatory. Alas, the event was not blessed with clear skies. Nevertheless, approximately 80 visitors attended, and had the opportunity to see around Orwell Park Observatory and to engage with members of OASI. A lucky few were able to see some celestial objects through the Tomline Refractor and other telescopes during breaks in the cloud. Our next open weekend will be in 2025, exact date TBD. More.
[3/12]   A geomagnetic storm triggered a spectacular aurora on 10 October 2024. Images T->B, L->R: Mike Whybray, Martin Cook, Andy Gibbs, Bill Barton, FRAS, Neil Morley, Paul Whiting, FRAS. More.
[4/12]   The Sword Handle (or Double Cluster) in Perseus and the Andromeda Galaxy (h and χ Persei and M31). 02 October 2024. Martin Cook. Taken from Whitestone near Banchory. More.
[5/12]   Saturn, with the rings almost edge-on. (Ring plane crossing occurs in March 2025.) 13 September 2024. Andy Gibbs. More.
[6/12]   Spiral galaxy M33 in Triangulum. 12 September 2024. Stephen McElvaney. More.
[7/12]   Members of OASI enjoying a curry to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the commissioning of Orwell Park Observatory. 07 September 2024. Mike Whybray. More.
[8/12]   OASI observers at Stonham Parva Summer Fete waiting for the Sun to appear so that observing can begin. Alas, they were to be disappointed! 31 August 2024. Neil Morley. More.
[9/12]   The Sun's disk imaged during OASI's outreach event at Bawdsey Radar Museum. 25 August 2024. Paul Whiting, FRAS. More.
[10/12]   Disappearance phase of a lunar occultation of Saturn. 21 August 2024. Paul Whiting, FRAS. More.
[11/12]   A galaxy, a star cluster and two nebulae imaged with OASI's Seestar S50 "smart" telescope: L-R, NGC6946 (the Fireworks Galaxy), M15 (the Great Pegasus Cluster), NGC7023 (the Iris Nebula) and NGC7635 (the Bubble Nebula). 09 August 2024. Paul Whiting, FRAS. More galaxies, star clusters and nebulae.
[12/12]   An unusual phenomenon captured by a meteor camera: sprites forming above lightning storms over northern France. 30 July 2024. Nigel Evans. More.