Until not too long ago, astronomers often made their own instruments of telescopes or devices attached behind them. However, in Astronomy today the technology way too diverse and specialised, and the instruments are very sophisticated /complicated and large to be developed single handed. Usually a whole group of engineers, scientists and technicians are needed to…
September is the start of our new season. SAS Memberships will be due from 1st September 2023 (payable throughout September) for this season 2023/2024 Joining/Renewing helps support your local astronomical society & community. So come on down to the Cygnus Observatory (based at the Washington Wetlands Centre) to join or renewyour SAS membership. The SAS is…
The Sunderland Astronomical Society AGM (Via Zoom) will be taking place on Sunday 29th October 2023 from 7:30 pm at our base of operations Discovery Room at the Washington Wetlands Centre. Zoom AGM meeting details will be distributed via our SAS email service or upon request from zoom-meetings@sunderlandastro.com. SAS members are invited to attend, listen to chair’s reports…
SAS have been invited by North Shields Customer First Centre (i.e. the North Tyneside Libraries) to participate in this event: observing, talks & SAS stuff at St Mary’s lighthouse on Wednesday 24th November 2023. Date: Wednesday 24th November 2023. Event Times: 7 pm to 10 pm. Location: St Mary’s Island causeway, Whitley Bay. NE26 4RS.…
What sort of rockets or spaceships could we use to go to the distant stars. We will explore some of the crazier designs that have been proposed over the years, most of which have some possibility of working. The future may be nearer than we think!
Event is Cancelled Due to Extreme Weather Conditions. Watch this Space for an Alternative Date Back by popular demand, Sunderland Astronomical Society are will be hosting a unique Moon Watch and Stargazing event at our base of operations (Cygnus Observatory and Washington Wetlands Centre). Join Sunderland Astronomical Society for this public Moon Watch & Stargazing…
Despite the fact that massive stars don’t live for a very long time, their impact on their natal environment is profound. Besides being responsible for stopping (but sometimes also triggering!) the formation of new generations of stars, they also regulate how galaxies evolve. However, many mysteries about massive stars remain: How and where do they…
SAS Starbeque event at Derwent Reservoir Car Park. Date: Saturday 23rd September 2023 Time: From 3 pm until very late, observing afterwards if weather is favorable. Venue: Will take place at at Derwent Reservoir located at our Millshield dark sky site. This is our traditional celebration of the return of darker nights and, as this season’s…
In this talk Vicky will be returning to talk to SAS in-person to discuss monster black holes and quasars : how we find them, what a “supermassive black hole” is, and the first ever images of a black hole. Vicky will also present my own research area, “active galaxies”, which are incredibly bright galaxies powered…
Astronomy today is in an exciting and challenging era with the fast-increasing amount of data from large-scale sky surveys and future facilities. For example, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) founded in 2000 has observed ~50 million galaxies, the Dark Energy Survey has found over 300 million galaxies since starting its observation in 2013, and…