Ayrshire Astronomical Society

09/06/2026

✨ Look up tonight! ✨

Venus and Jupiter will appear close together in the night sky this evening 🌌

Visible from around 22:30, the two planets will shine low on the horizon, with Venus appearing just above Jupiter.

The pair will remain visible for a short time before setting just after midnight — making this the perfect opportunity for a spot of stargazing 🔭✨

Find a clear view of the western horizon and enjoy this beautiful celestial pairing

08/06/2026

Tomorrow NASA will provide an update on the 2027 Artemis III mission and announce the astronauts assigned to the test flight.

A live event at 15:00 GMT on Tuesday 9th June will be held at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and live streamed on the NASA YouTube channel 🚀✨🌝✨

We loved the 2026 Artemis II round the moon trip (we were there in name too!) so we cant wait to hear more information about their 2027 mission 🤩✨

https://www.youtube.com/live/0fLROeRhqZM?si=Sg8TfYAiUZVx-vUk

Meet the astronauts of Artemis III! We're providing an update on ...

04/06/2026

Possible aurora alerts vs Astronomical Twilight!

The current forecast calls for combined CME arrival around mid-afternoon EDT of June 4, with up to G3 levels possible afterwards. CME passage would likely continue into the evening and possibly overnight hours of June 5. Stay aware at spaceweather.gov

31/05/2026

Watch the Blue Micromoon rise online tonight.

Astronomers announce free livestream of the full Moon rising. Watch the 31st May 2026 Blue Micromoon rise live online, courtesy of a livestream by the Virtual Telescope Project

Watch the 31st May 2026 Blue Micromoon rise live online, courtesy of a livestream by the Virtual Telescope Project.

29/05/2026

🌕✨ Eyes to the skies✨🌕

On Saturday 31st May, skies over Ayrshire should be glowing with a rare Blue Moon Micro-moon (clouds permitting) 🌌

This special full moon is known as a Blue Moon because it’s an extra full moon within the seasonal calendar — and it’s also a Micromoon, meaning the Moon will be slightly farther from Earth than usual, appearing a little smaller and dimmer in the sky.

🕘 Best viewed after sunset and throughout the night
📍 Clear skies and darker spots across Ayrshire will give the best views

While the difference in size is subtle, it’s still a fantastic chance to enjoy a beautiful full moon over Ayrshire’s coastline, countryside, and night skies 🌊📸

Perfect for evening walks, moon photography, and a bit of stargazing magic ✨

Tag someone who’d love to see it and share your photos of the Blue Moon Micromoon! 🌕💙

27/05/2026

A planetary alignment of Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury should be visible this evening looking towards the west- northwest (e.g., towards the Isle of Arran from the Ayrshire coast). 🪐✨

The ideal viewing window is 30-60 minutes after sunset. (Do not look before the sun fully dips below the horizon to avoid eye damage). Find an elevated spot with an unobstructed, flat view (binoculars may help)

Venus: Shines brilliantly and is very easy to spot as the "Evening Star".
Jupiter: Shines brightly and will be positioned higher in the sky.
Mercury: The trickiest of the three; it sits very low to the horizon and can get lost in the sun's glare!

Happy viewing and clear skies ✨

23/05/2026

Well what a week that was!
At our AGM we were sad to say goodbye to our outgoing President and Vice President. Stephen Wolohan and Paul Cameron but look forward to seeing them next season.
We welcomed Marc Charron as new President. Marc brings a wealth of Astronomy experience and a passion for Astrophotography.
Our final social and Quiz of the Year was won by Team : Ayr-O-Space, winning a Trophy and samples of our new merchandise (watch this space 👀).
Commiserations to the loosing team and winners of the Wooden Spoon: The Kyle Triplet.
Special mention to the best Team name winners of the Shooting Star - Cosmic Microwave Background Noise.
Sorry no photos - too much fun was being had 😀✨
To all our lovely members and followers have a lovely summer, follow this page for Astro content and our meetings start again in September. Clear skies ✨

18/05/2026

Gentle reminder tonight is the last AAS meeting of the season. It is a MEMBERS ONLY event with AGM, QUIZ, and Social. Theres a wee buffet and prizes to be won in the Astro themed Quiz and hopefully a few laughs and chat along the way ✨ Hope to see you all at 7pm Kyle Academy this evening ✨

16/05/2026

Keep an eye on the night sky over the next few weeks — noctilucent clouds may be visible after sunset or before sunrise! 🌌

These glowing clouds form extremely high in the atmosphere and shine with an electric blue color when illuminated by the Sun from below the horizon. They’re most often seen during summer twilight and can create a truly spectacular display.

If you spot them, snap a photo and share it!

15/05/2026

Might be worth checking the skies for aurora when dusk passes 🤞