ASV Logo

Welcome to the Astronomical Society of Victoria

The Society is based in Melbourne, Australia and includes city and country members, as well some in other states and overseas. It attracts people with a wide range of astronomical interests, ages, abilities and experience. Originally founded in 1922, it is the largest such organisation in the southern hemisphere.

Membership is open to all with an interest in astronomy.

 

Messier Star Party - March 6, 2021

 
The ASVs Messier Star Party is now open for bookings.
 
This event will be held at the Leon Mow Dark Sky Site north of Heathcote on March 6th. Site address will be on ticket.
 
Please note that there are only 150 tickets public for this event. ASV Members please be aware that you will receive an email for membership ticket allocation. Events for the day will start at 3pm please arrive around 2pm. The days events will include:
 
1. Solar Viewing
2. Kids Activities
3. Beer & Wine tasting
4. How to Use Your Telescope
5. Lions Club BBQ
6. Site Tour
7. Astro Quiz
8. Drawing of door/raffle prizes
9. Sky For The Night (Limited to 50 people - Tickets will be issued on the day to ensure Covid 19 compliance)
10. Cosmic Cafe will provide tea/coffee and biscuits (maybe Tim Tams as well)
11. Radio Astronomy
12. Visual Astronomy with the ASV 25” & 40” telescopes (Tickets to access views from both telescopes will be issued on the day to ensure Covid 19 compliance with numbers around the telescopes)
 
Tickets for this event are limited and will go quickly so be sure to book now!
Cost $10 per person. Kids under 18yrs old free.
 
Don't forget to buy a raffle ticket! Details below.
 
The Messier Star Party starts at 2pm on the 6th of March, 2021
 
If you have any questions about the event contact Mark on starparty@asv.org.au

 
  

 

Messier Star Party 2021 Raffle

Tickets are now available for our Messier Star Party Raffle!!
Buy a ticket to go in to the draw for your chance to win an iOptron SkyGuider Pro Camera Mount with iPolar (Camera & Tripod not included) Supplied by
Sidereal Trading Pty Ltd
$5 a ticket! Purchase your ticket through the link below!
https://bit.ly/2MzOCNH
The SkyGuider Pro — iOptron’s next generation camera tracking device! Leading the camera tracker market for nearly four years, iOptron’s SkyGuider Pro pushes closer to perfection.
The redesigned SkyGuider Pro mount head is more compact, small enough to fit on your palm, better precision, silent tracking, built-in rechargeable power source, ST-4 guiding port and camera trigger port. The improved precision polar scope maintains a fine engraved reticule, now features adjustable illumination with different brightness levels.
Raffle Value $1,159. Prize includes fully insured courier delivery.
Funds raised will go towards the ASV (All Abilities Astronomy Project)
Raffle open to Australian residents only
Total number of 1390 tickets.
Winner will be notified by email
If you have any questions about the raffle contact Mark on starparty@asv.org.au
 

 

 

 

Gift Certificate

Looking for that unique present to buy a loved one or friend?  Well, look no further.... share the universe with a gift a one-year membership to the Astronomical Society of Victoria. Contact us via email

Gift Certificate

 

  

ASV Monthly Meetings

 

The ASV Monthly Meetings (held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month) are now being streamed through our public Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Our next Monthly Meeting is on Wednesday 10th February 2021 starts at 8:00 pm and Professor Ilya Mandel, Monash University will give a presentation on Gravitational Wave Astronomy.
The presentation will be followed by Perry’s Sky for the Month.
The Monthly meetings are live-streamed to our Facebook page via YouTube.Missed the meeting? 
You can now catch up on the ASV YouTube channel

 

  

LMDSS Update - COVID SUMMER 

 

The LMDSS is now open, under the COVID SUMMER guidelines, for All members from 21st December 2020.
Please see the LMDSS Access Information page in the Members area for more information.
  

Pathways to the Planets

Here at the Astronomical Society of Victoria, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn about and observe the wonders of our universe.

That's why we've initiated our Pathways to the Planets project - to raise valuable funds for improving the facilities at our dark sky site which will enable access to the site and purpose-built astronomical equipment for limited mobility and low vision observers.

To read more about this exciting project or to donate to this incredible cause, please visit: Pathways to the Planet

Crux Magazine for February-March 2021

The February-March edition of Crux is now available for downloading by Members.

Crux Extra!

Crux Extra comes out weekly with articles on Astronomy and related areas.


Visit the Members Area and go to Downloads.

ASV 2021 Yearbook Online

The ASV 2021 Yearbook is now available in PDF for downloading by Members.

ASV Items For Sale

A section in the ASV Forum has been created for members wanting to buy or sell Astronomical Items.

Please log in to the Members Only section and visit the Forum or click on the 'Chat' icon.

The Great Melbourne Telescope Restoration Project

Here's a link to a story by Liz Clarkson with a number of images of ASV members hard at work in restoring the Great Melbourne Telescope. It gives a little bit of history and outlines the aims and current status of the project to bring this telescope back to Melbourne Observatory, in a working condition for members of the public to look through. It was once the largest steerable telescope in the world back in the late 1880s.

Events iCal

The ASV runs a large number of events to cater for a broad range of astronomy related interests. Check the website on a regular basis for the latest updates. The next 14 events are listed below - view the calendar page for a full listing of planned events.

Wed 24 February

Council

7.45pm - 10.15pm

ASV Council meeting

Sun 28 February

Solar Section meeting

2.00pm - 4.00pm

Online via Zoom
For more information contact: Russ Cockman, Section Director
Email: solar@asv.org.au

Sun 28 February

Astrophotography Section meeting

2.30pm - 4.30pm

Topic: TBA
Presenters: TBA
Online via Zoom
For more information, contact Section Director: Paul Litchen

Mon 1 March

Computing Section

8.00pm - 10.00pm

For further information contact Section Director: Craig Boyd
Location: Zoom

Wed 3 March

Cosmology and Astro-Physics Section Meeting

8.00pm - 10.30pm

Discuss current news in Cosmology and Astro-Physics
Topic: "Mystery of Ancient Galaxy Clusters"

Location: Zoom
“All Welcome – Bring an Open Mind”
Note: ASV members only

Contact: Ross Berner, Section Director
Mobile: 0403 167 004
Email:  cosmology@asv.org.au 

Sat 6 March - Sun 7 March

Messier Star Party

12.00pm Sat 6-Mar - 12.00pm Sun 7-Mar

Wed 10 March

ASV Monthly meeting

8.00pm - 10.00pm

Location: On Line via Zoom

This month will be section talks from Lunar & Planetary and Comet & Meteor Sections.

Fri 12 March

Junior Section

7.30pm - 9.30pm

Location: On Line via Zoom

Meeting times:-
7:00pm - 9:00pm (EST)
7:30pm - 9:30pm (DST)

For further information contact Section Director: Chris Rudge

Mon 15 March

Radio Astronomy (via Zoom)

7.45pm - 10.45pm

Radio Astronomy Section meeting
Location: Online Via Zoom
For further information contact Section Director: Robert Arrowsmith

Tue 16 March

The Diurnals

10.30am - 12.15pm

Location:

Speaker:
Topic:
Location: ASV Lodge
For further information contact Section Director: Patricia Larkin

Wed 17 March

Bendigo Section

7.30pm - 10.00pm

Bendigo District Astronomical Section (BDAS)
For more information, contact Section Director, Noel Harvie E: bendigo@asv.org.au

Wed 17 March

New Astronomers Group (NAG)

7.30pm - 10.30pm

Topic:

Location: ASV Lodge
For more information, contact Section Director: Ken Le Marquand: 
E:nag@asv.org.au

Fri 19 March

Lunar and Planetary Section meeting

8.00pm - 10.30pm

Online via Zoom
For more information, contact Section Director: Stewart Beveridge

Sat 20 March

Instrument Making Section

2.00pm - 5.00pm

Location: ASV Lodge
For further information contact Section Director: Mark Justice

More events: Calendar