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.
Events
Mon 21 Apr 2025, 20:00, Zoom, Pre-recorded talk: Is Interstellar Travel Possible? by Les Johnson. (Zoom login details are provided in an email to members.)
Wed 23 Apr 2025, 20:00, Orwell Park Observatory, General observing for members of OASI.
Fri 25 Apr 2025, 19:45, St Augustine's Church, The Lantern Room (church annex), Lecture Meeting. Nik Szymanek, Robotic Telescopes.
Our 2025 lecture series.
Mon 28 Apr 2025, 19:30, Newbourne Village Hall, Newbourne meeting - beginners and new members welcome!
Observing target for the month: Ursa Major.
19:30: doors open.
19:45: Sky Notes by Bill Barton, FRAS.
Full events list, with contact details for further information.
[1/10] Observations by Steve McElvanney and Neil Morley show the evolution of active regions (sunspots) on the solar disk over the period 03-08 April 2025. Steve McElvanney: 03, 06 and 08 April; Neil Morley 07 April. The rotation of the Sun causes the sunspots to move from left to right over a period of some days.
More.
[2/10] Two galaxies imaged with a Seestar S50 "smart" telescope. LHS M51 in Canes Venatici imaged 04 April 2025, RHS M81 in Ursa Major imaged 06 April 2025. Neil Morley.
More galaxies.
[3/10] M101 in Ursa Major imaged 05-06 April 2025. Steve McElvanney.
More galaxies.
[4/10] The partial solar eclipse of 29 March was widely observed across the UK. Left: OASI observers at Newbourne enjoying the spectacle. Top, L-R: NASA GONG (Global Oscillation Network Group) image, Neil Morley smartphone at eyepiece of Lunt LS35, Alan Buttivant using iPad. Bottom, L-R: Neil Morley sketch at eyepiece of Lunt LS35, Paul Whiting, FRAS, Seestar S50, Nigel Evans EdgeHD stopped down to 85 mm with solar filter.
More.
[5/10] Venus on 19 March (LHS) and 26 March (RHS), respectively four days before and three days after inferior conjunction on 23 March 2025. Seeing was very poor. Nigel Evans.
More.
[6/10] Chairman Andy Gibbs introduces the speaker, Mike Culley, FRAS, at the start of the initial lecture of OASI's
2025 lecture series on 21 March 2025.
[7/10] IC443, the
Jellyfish Nebula. 18 and 20 March 2025. Andy Gibbs.
More.
[8/10] A montage of images of Jupiter. Top row, 17 February 2025: Jupiter with a transit of Io starting and in progress. Bottom left, 18 February 2025: the Great Red Spot is prominent. Bottom right, 18 February 2025: Jupiter with a shadow transit of Europa. Carl Baldwin.
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[9/10] A close approach of the Moon and Venus occurred on 01 February 2025. The two bodies were at an apparent angular separation of 3° during early evening. Photos L->R: Neil Morley, Robin Carpenter, Adam Honeybell, Tracy Flynn,Andy Gibbs.
More.
[10/10] A montage of observations of Saturn by OASI observers 2013-2025 illustrates the changing aspect of the rings as the planet moves in its orbit. Credits: MO'M=Mike O'Mahony, DM=David Murton, AG=Andy Gibbs, CB=Carl Baldwin, NE=Nigel Evans.
More.
