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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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Other opportunities to visit Orwell Park Observatory and see the historic Tomline Refractor.

Membership

Join OASI or renew membership.

Information for members:

Events

Mon 27 Apr 2026, 19:30, Newbourne Village Hall, Newbourne meeting - beginners and new members welcome!
19:30 Doors open.
19:45 Sky Notes by Bill Barton, FRAS.

Wed 29 Apr 2026, 20:00, Orwell Park Observatory, General observing for members of OASI.

Mon 04 May 2026, 19:30, Newbourne Village Hall, Newbourne meeting - beginners and new members welcome!
19:30 Doors open.

Wed 06 May 2026, 20:00, Orwell Park Observatory, General observing for members of OASI.

Full events list, with contact details for further information.

 

Recent activities and observations

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[1/10]   Chairman Andy Gibbs introduces Chris Mead, speaker at OASI's final lecture of the 2026 season. Chris provided a fitting climax to the season, with a rivetting acount of astronomy in the region, from the bload-soaked era of the fourteenth century to the modern day, part travelog, part history of astronomy. Photo by James Appleton, 24 April 2026.
[2/10]   The Moon and Venus in the evening sky. 14 April 2026. Martin Cook.
[3/10]   Comet C2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) heading towards perihelion on 19 April 2026. Left: Louise Manning, 12 April 2026. Centre & right: Nigel Evans, 14 April 2026.
[4/10]   Markarian's Chain, a group of galaxies in the Virgo Cluster lying along a smooth curve. 07 April 2026. Steve McElvanney.
[5/10]   The carrier rocket for NASA's ESCAPADE mission imaged at a distance from Earth of over 6 milllion km. 18 March 2026. Nigel Evans.
[6/10]   Spiral galaxy M106, at a distance of approximately 25 million light years, together with some of the surrounding galaxies. 11 March 2026. Steve McElvanney.
[7/10]   A sketch of the solar disk compared with an Hα image. 05 March 2026. Sketch: Neil Morley; image: Steve McElvanney.
[8/10]   An aurora seen while enjoying a Saga cruise on the Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea. 02 March 2026. Paul Whiting, FRAS.
[9/10]   The giant planet Jupiter and Galilean satellite Io (shortly to move behind the planet). 16 February 2026. Andy Gibbs.
[10/10]   A spectacular aurora was widely visible throughout the UK on the evening of 19 January 2026. Many members of OASI observed the phenomenon. L: Mike Such. Top row, L-R: Nigel Evans, Stephen Olley, Jack Gleed, Alexander Lloyd, Martin Cook. Bottom row, L-R: Andy Gibbs, Adam Honeybell, Chrissi Nunn, Richard Knowles, Steve McElvanney.


Updated: 25 April 2026