Taken my colander on holiday to Bristol. Seeing the eclipse safely for those without eclipse glasses

Well that's fun. First time I've been asked to do an interview with the opening line "you must bring your own Colander!"

I was really hoping for some great sunspot groups around the time of the solar eclipse to really accentuate the Moon's transit but I fear the cupboard may well be bare 😭

It's fun watching the waning Moon sneaking up on the Sun. Just 5 days until the Ninja Moon takes out the Sun.

Had a fun morning up in the Paddocks by Beckford's Tower checking all is ready for the partial solar eclipse next Wednesday evening. Thanks to Netty for being an amazing guide.

Waiting for lunar impact, under clouds, and getting wet fro. The rain. Oddly very happy.

Bath Astronomers are kicking off their Partial Solar Eclipse campaign 3 months ahead of the big event on Wednesday 12th August 2026. The society are looking to supply up to 40 local schools with free solar glasses and guidance for schools on how to train pupils on their safe usage. Going to be busy

Great the buddy up with Bath Space Society at the University of Bath to run an evenings stargazing for all at Brickfields Park, Bath last night. Lots of people seeing different types of celestial objects for the very first time.

Thanks to Skye of Transition Bath for organising last night's #EarthHour in Royal Victoria Park, Bath. It was great to chat about protecting the night sky and then look up into it with 6 different telescopes all lined up and loads of keen visitors. The telescope crew were Martin, Roger and Simon.

Great evening catching up with friends at @bathastronomers.org.uk 50th Anniversary bash. Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell gave a fine talk and I got to catch up with Dr Jen Millard of Amesome Astronomy and Weatherman Walking fame.

Back in school today. This time Downside School, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Radstock, to help support their topic To Infinity and Beyond. We spent our time looking for exoplanets, planets beyond those in our precious solar system. Over 7,000 found and no inbound phone calls for ET detected... yet.

The Bath Astronomical Society had its first meeting on Wednesday 24th March 1976. It was held at the Percy Boys Club and the small ad in the Bath Evening Chronicle had mustered quite a crowd. Great things lay ahead for the Bath Astronomical Society. As Bath Astronomers, it is still going strong.

A busy weekend of astronomy outreach. Had planned a quiet Sunday but lots of fixing/planning astro jobs to do!!! We've supported Astrofest 2026 by StarQuest in Sutton Veny and run two simultaneous observing sessions. One north of Bath for the public and one in All Cannings, Wilts for brave members.

The losing streak is over... Our drought of public stargazing due to poor weather had reached 17th events in a row but tonight... we smashed it with a big group of happy punters. 5 telescopes and a large pair of binoculars entertained a mix of the public, families and students from the college.

A new record. Bath Astronomers have just cancelled its 17th stargazing event in a row!!! All due to the weather. We only count events which are 100% weather dependent. We've still been managing lots of outreach especially during #BritishScienceWeek. Perhaps Saturday night will go ahead. Fingers xx

APPLICATIONS SOUGHT FOR THE 2026 CAROLINE HERSCHEL PRIZE LECTURESHIP Applications are now open for the 2026 Prize Lectureship. Apply by 30 April. Details on the award itself, eligibility, and the application form, are available here: herschelsociety.org.uk/caroline-her...

To Dome or not to Dome? That is the Question. It's #BritishScienceWeek so Dome, Dome, Dome. Just been to St. Michael's Junior School, Bath to bring the edge of the universe a little closer to the classroom for Yr3 to Yr6.

A #BritishScienceWeek visit to a local school, Bishop Henderson, to experience the creation of the solar system as told through Space Rocks. Great sessions with Reception up to Year 3. Showing mind blowing science before someone's told them "it's not for them". Inspiring the next gen scientists

#WalesWestSpacefest was a great success at Aerospace Bristol. Our wonderful volunteers were busy giving talks, running activities and crewing stands. Good to meet so many people: Cardiff AS, Bristol AS, Aerospace Bristol, Herschel Museum, BIS, BAA, Space Detectives, WMA, Space West & Space Wales.

Huge thank you to Paul Newport for his donation of a 10" dobsonian telescope to @bathastronomers.org.uk. This Sky-Watcher Skyliner 250P Flextube will join our range of telescopes used for public outreach. It'll get a little spruce up and collimated and it'll be in action once the clouds clear.

A walk under the stars this evening to count the number of stars visible in the constellation of Orion as part of CPRE Somerset #StarCount2026. Tonight I counted 22 stars inside the rectangle of Betelgeuse, Saiph, Rigel and Bellatrix from w3w.co/worry.tricks...

Joe, Jonathan and Simon had great fun this evening at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy welcoming guests to an evening under the clouds and chatting about Dark Skies, Elon Musk, and the Herschel family. Bath Astronomers are delighted to support the Museum and continue to be the resident astronomers.

Our fifth decade will be acheived on Tuesday 24th March 2026. Bath Astronomical Society was born at 8pm in a room at Percy Boys Club on the third Wednesday of March, 1976. We'll celebrate with Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell at the Old Theatre Royal Bath. Tickets via bathastronomers.org.uk/50anniversary

Less than 3 weeks until Wales & West Spacefest at Aerospace Bristol. Saturday 7th March from 9:30am to 5pm. Astro talks, stands, kids activities, mobile planetarium and virtual reality headsets. If you don't go home dizzy, we've done something wrong. Tickets @ aerospacebristol.org/wales-west-s...

Schools have been amazing and invited us in our the last few weeks to support the National Curriculum and Yr5s doing Space or simply to bring science to life in the classroom. Busy days but so much fun. Never gets boring with questions on black holes, alien life, and when the Sun will explode.

Getting out and about to talk about astronomy in the local community and how it can help from stress management and relaxing to inspiring people to think beyond their iPhone and Traitors. Welcomed by Toni Green at Radio Bath to chat on air about outreach and Bath Astronomers.

Are you ready for the inaugural Wales & West Spacefest? Family friendly and amateur astro friendly simultaneously. Get a ticket for Saturday 7th March at Aerospace Bristol. Brought to you by Bath Astronomers, Bristol Astronomical Society(AS) and Cardiff AS. aerospacebristol.org/wales-west-s...

Wow. What a start to 2026!! Every single one of our next 6 stargazing outreach sessions are SOLD OUT. We'd better plan some more!!!

Perhaps gravity was affected by the conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter last night? Glowing balls were going in crazy directions

Best New Year's Resolution - Join your local Astronomical Society in 2026. Keep fit carrying telescopes around. Burn calories keeping warm at night. See the Universe in all its glory.