• International Observing Session at The Park Observatory
• Messier Programme
• Treasurers Annual Report & Accounts
  
• Membership Secretary's Annual Report
• CAS Mentor Programme
• Coordinator's Annual Report
• Dates for your Diary
• More Afternoon Astronomy
  
• Coordinators Spot
• Editors Spot
  

Read Now... (PDF,5.1MB) (access restricted to CAS Members Only)

CAS Members - please contact the Coordinator who will be able to advise the password if you do not know. 

Please note that the May, June and July  meetings will be held in the Century Hall of the Shurdington Social Centre as a trial. If it meets with members approval, we will switch permanently to the larger hall.

The Cotswold Astronomical Society in association with Cheltenham College will be presenting a series of Illustrated Talks and MoonWatch events at the Thirlestaine Long Gallery, Thirlestaine Road, Cheltenham over 3 evenings in early March, beginning at 7pm.
Entrance is free and refreshments will be available. All are welcome.

Mon 2nd March - My life in Astronomy by Callum Potter
Tues 3rd March - Geology of the Moon by Peter Cadogan
Wed 4th March - Observing the Moon by Jim Smith & Tony Ireland

After the talks there will be opportunities to ask questions and to view the moon through society telescopes and binoculars, weather permitting.
For more information about the CAS, please visit www.cotswoldas.org.uk.

For directions to Cheltenham College visit www.cheltcoll.gloucs.sch.uk/cc/contacts/directions.php.
For more information about the event contact Peter by email at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

There are two open observing evenings scheduled for February 2009.

17th February

At Bredon Cricket Club, starting at 8.00 pm. All welcome.  You can download  this flier

You can also follow this Google Map link

24th February

At Rodborough Common, starting at 7.30 pm. All welcome.

You can also follow this Google Map link 

The meet up point is at the first car park, shown on the centre of this map, observing site will be to the west of the car park

Note that both evenings will only take place if the weather is good. Please contact the Coordinator if in any doubt before travelling.

Congratulations to Jim Smith and Kevin Taylor, the recipients of this years awards. Jim Smith was awarded the Robin Townley trophy for 'contribution to the work of the society', and Kevin Taylor for 'best astro-images'.

Society observing evenings for the Winter season will kick off at 8.00 pm on Tuesday 21st October at Bredon Cricket Club, with the 28th being a backup date if conditions are not good on the 21st.

You can download this flier , and click on Read More for the rest of the dates.

All members welcome.

Non-members should contact the Coordinator prior to the evening.

Remember: RED LIGHT RULES

In order to encourage Society members (new and old, beginners and experienced) to spend more quality time at the eyepiece, we are launching a new Observing Programme based on the 110 Messier objects.

he aim of the Programme is to provide a structured approach to finding and observing these most spectacular of deep-sky objects. In addition, the Society will confer Awards (Silver, Gold and Platinum) on members who achieve certain observing goals and submit their completed observation logs to the Observing Director. A “roll of honour”, listing those who have received Awards, will also be maintained and published on the Society web site.

Star-hopping hints and tips for finding well-placed objects will be included in issues of Mercury throughout the year, and it is envisaged that helping observers hunt for their as-yet-unseen Messier objects will form a part of Society Observing Evenings during the winter months.

You can dowload here:

Programme Rules

Messier List

  Observing Log

Gallery has had a couple of nice deep sky images by Les Dickens added today.

M45 (The Pleiades) and The Double Cluster in Perseus (NGC  869/884).