| Timetable of Open Nights - 2022/2023 | ||||
| Dates | Open Time | On View | Moon State | |
| Dec Primary Dates: Fri 16th, Sat 17th No Back-up Dates |
7:30 pm | M13 Globular Cluster, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars Double Cluster, M42 Orion Nebula, Uranus & Neptune |
Moon sets: Fri 00:40(40%), Sat 00:52 (50%) |
|
| Christmas & New Year Opening Primary Date: Tue 27th Dec, Back-up Date: wed 28th Dec |
7:30 pm | Andromeda Galaxy, M13 & M15 Globular Clusters, Uranus, Neptune, Coathanger OC, Double Cluster & Orion Nebula |
Moon Sets: 21:20 (18%) Back up Date: Moon Sets: 22:44 (28%) |
|
| Jan Primary Dates: Fri 13th & Sat 14th Jan Back-up Dates: Fri 20th, Sat 21st |
7:30 pm | Jupiter, Mars, Uranus, M31 Andromeda Galaxy M13 Globular Cluster, Pleiades, Hyades, Orion Nebula |
No Moon |
|
| Feb Primary Dates: Fri 10th, Sat 11th Back-up Dates: Fri 17th, Sat 18th |
7:30 pm | Mars, Uranus, Andromeda Galaxy, M13 Globular Cluster, M45, Orion Nebula, M36, M37, M38, Almach, Beta Monoceros | Moon Rise 22:30 Back up Dates: No Moon |
|
| March Primary Dates: Fri 17th, Sat 18th Back-up Dates: Fri 24th, Sat 25th |
7:30 pm | Andromeda Galaxy, M13 & M92 Globular Clusters, M3, Double Cluster, M42 Orion Nebula, Beehive Cluster | No Moon Back up Date: Fri Moon 10%, sets 22:20 |
|
| April Primary Dates: Fri 14th, Sat 15th Back-up Dates: Fri 21st, Sat 22nd |
8:30 pm | Castor, M35 Open Cluster, M13 Globular Cluster, Leo Triplet, Double Cluster | No Moon Back up Date: Fri Moon 2%, sets 22:13 |
|
| May Primary Dates: Fri 12th, Sat 13th None (Too Light) |
9:30 pm | Mars, Venus, Mizar, Various Galaxies & Double Clusters | No Moon Back up Date: N/a |
|
The club's observatory at Toothill is located in a relatively dark site just outside Southampton, see map below. No need to book, just turn up.
It has reopened to the public on the dates to the left. You will see that weekend sessions are now arranged in pairs, with a "primary" and a "back-up". The primary will take place, weather permitting, but the back-up will only take place if the corresponding primary sessions were both clouded out. Each session is open ended, we stay until we've had enough or the weather closes in.
Members admitted free. Non-members: adults £5, children free.
Cash payments only, please. No cards
Toilets and free parking are available.
The observatory contains:
- 14" Meade telescope
- 8" Meade LX90
- 6" Celestron Nexstar SE
- 20 x 80 binoculars
- Computer with desktop planetarium
The design of the 14" telescope is such that users remain seated, so it is suitable for wheelchair users.