Lewes Astronomical Society

29/08/2026

Our fantastic Monthly Star chart is out! Here's what to look out for in the Night Sky this month:

September brings some fantastic sights to the night sky. Venus makes its final appearance as an evening star before returning as the morning star in October, while Saturn makes a welcome return to the evening skies. Early risers can also spot Mars and Jupiter.

It’s a great month to escape the town lights and look for the Milky Way, stretching from southwest to northeast across the sky. Keep an eye out for the avian-themed constellations Aquila the Eagle and Cygnus the Swan. 🦅🦢

With binoculars, there’s plenty more to discover. Look between Aquila and Scutum for the Wild Duck Cluster, a fan-shaped group of stars resembling a flock in flight. Nearby, the Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula is the glowing remains of a dying star.

And then there’s Deneb, the brilliant blue supergiant in Cygnus. It shines tens of thousands of times brighter than the Sun and, in a few million years, is expected to end its life in a spectacular supernova.

📸This month we also have a beautiful image of the Dumbell Nebula taken by Paul Whitmarsh

📊 produced by Sarah Carson and Paul Whitmarsh.
You'll also find the star chart in the The Lewesian

29/08/2026

Day 2 of the Astronomy Festival at Herstmonceux Observatory begins in an hour.

The observatory have some amazing activities and talks lined up for all of you. The domes with the giant telescopes will be open and there is even a Moon experience!

The astronomy societies are out in their tents. We are delighted to be situated between our friends Eastbourne and Brighton astronomical societies.

Today at our tent we will have colouring and straw rocket making. We also have more magazines and badges to give away. And if the weather is right for it we will take the solar scope out during the day and the telescopes out tonight.

Hope to see some of you there ☀️🔭

📸 Image taking by Paul Whitmarsh

27/08/2026

The LAS will have a stall at the astronomy festival this weekend.

Times for the festival:
Friday 10am to 5.30 and 6.30pm to 11pm
Saturday the same!
Sunday 10am until 5pm

The observatory will have lots of activities for adults and children and you can take tours of the telescopes. In the evenings you will able to look through them too!

Our stall will be near Dome D, we will have our solar scope and several telescopes with us. Plus we have a range of kids crafting activities!

Hope to see you there!

27/08/2026

27/08/2026

The Landport volunteer team with Mayor Adrian Ross, also a member of the LAS! We all had a wonderful time and it was great to meet so many lovely people. The event was extremely well done and the Landport picnic team created a wonderful community atmosphere. Thanks for the invite! And thank you to everyone that took part in the activities and came to see us!

12/08/2026

Didn't manage to get eclipse glasses? Don't worry you can use a home made projector instead!!

Here are two ways to make a projector:

1. The colander method (see picture): Stand with your back to the sun, hold up the colander, use a white piece of paper or the ground (in picture and umbrella us used) to project lots of little suns onto. Each one of the colander wholes will show what is happening in the sky. You will see lots of tiny semi-circles getting darker and darker!

2. The pin hole method (tin foil version pictured): version 1 = take a piece of card or paper and use a pin or a tooth pick to make a hole in the paper, stand with your back to the sun, hold the paper/card above another. This projects the sun onto the bottom piece.
Version 2 = cut a square out of a piece of card (ideally), smooth out some tinfoil and cellotape it over the whole. Then use a pin or toothpick to make a hole in the centre of the foil. use this to project a picture of the sun onto another piece of paper or the floor.
Full instructions here (or LinkInBio): https://youtu.be/vVg6AAV8UIQ?is=fAJhBlQmeWsIZdKK

Enjoy the eclipse (Safely) 🌞

12/08/2026

Our Vice Chair, Carina Garland was interviewed by Seahaven fm with key information about this evenings Eclipse.

To listen in go to (Insta > LinkInBio): https://player.autopod.xyz/1421155

Listen from 33minutes into the recording to hear about how an eclipse works and about essential safety information!

Enjoy the Eclipse (safely) 🌞

11/08/2026

It's tomorrow! Eclipse on Wednesday the 12th of August, from 6pm. Martello Tower Seaford.

The eclipse begins at 6:17pm, reaches maximum at 7:13pm, and ends at 8:06pm. Sunset is about 20 minutes after the end. We should be set up and ready to go by about 6pm. We will be meeting at the Martello Tower on Seaford Beach. We will have the solar scope with us and some eclipse glasses to lend out.

Free event! All welcome!

Location: Martello Tower No.74, the Esplanade, Seaford
what3words: ///lyricism.diver.bandaged
Google: https://shorturl.at/ZreGE
Instagram linkinbio

Reminder: it is not safe to look at the sun, even during an eclipse without the proper equipement. If you want to bring your own solar viewing equipment please do so, but be aware that the LAS are not responsible for the use of any equipment brought to the event (your safety or the safety of the equipment).

09/08/2026

3 days to go until the eclipse!

For those not travelling to Spain to see the eclipse, join us in Seaford!

The eclipse begins at 6:17pm, reaches maximum at 7:13pm, and ends at 8:06pm. Sunset is about 20 minutes after the end.

The society will be at Martello Tower and set up from 6pm.

We will have the solar scope with us and eclipse glasses for you to use.
See our sun safety post for more information.

Free event! All welcome!

Location: Martello Tower No.74, the Esplanade, Seaford
what3words: ///lyricism.diver.bandaged

07/08/2026

5 days to go until the eclipse!

This will be the deepest UK eclipse (about 91 percent coverage) until 2081! Why not join us in Seaford to view it safely.

The eclipse begins at 6:17pm, reaches maximum at 7:13pm, and ends at 8:06pm. Sunset is about 20 minutes after the end.

The society will be at Martello Tower and set up from 6pm.

We will have the solar scope with us and eclipse glasses for you to use.
See our sun safety post for more information.

Free event! All welcome!

Location: Martello Tower No.74, the Esplanade, Seaford
what3words: ///lyricism.diver.bandaged