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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.

 

2019 X-mas Star-Be-Cue is Sat 21 Dec at ASV's Dark Sky Site

This is the premier astronomical event that finishes the year for observers of the heavens. It will be held from 12 noon featuring solar observing, site tours, wine tasting, Lions Club BBQ from 3 - 6pm and a fun trivia game during the afternoon. The evening will begin with "Sky for the Night" - a guided tour of the known Universe, featuring all the planets, stars and major constellations of the summer sky. Then it's followed by observing the Cosmos with the largest telescopes in Victoria. The event continues all through the night and includes FREE tea, coffee, hot chocolate and biscuits, plus a large astronomical telescope as a door prize. The site is about 90 mins drive from the CBD near Heathcote. Non members as well as members can attend this event, however NON MEMBERS MUST BOOK, by e-mailing 'perry@asv.org.au' and including the names of those attending with you; only limited places are available so you'll need to hurry. Members are not required to book and can just turn up. Cost members $5, non members $10 per person.

(UPDATE 4/12 - BOOKINGS FOR NON MEMBERS NOW FULL, AND ONLY ASV MEMBERS CAN ATTEND! SORRY...)

Click here to download the Star-be-cue Flyer

Crux Magazine for December - January

The December-January edition of Crux is now available for downloading by Members.

ASV 2019 Yearbook Online

The ASV 2019 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.

The Great Melbourne Telescope Restoration on Ch 9 News

Many people are not aware that Melbourne Observatory was the home of the largest steerable telescope in the world during the second half of the 1800s. There is magnificent volunteer effort from ASV members to restore the Great Melbourne Telescope and have it reinstalled in its original roll-off roof observatory not far from The Shrine. Channel 9 News presented a report on it recently and if you missed it on air, here's a link to it: https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1058993849224163328

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.

Fri 13 December

Library (Members Only)

6.30pm - 7.45pm

Location: Birdwood Ave, Melbourne

The Library is open at the following times:
+ Monthly Meeting - before 6.30 to 7.45pm and after from approx. 10:00 to 10:45pm
+ Members' Night - from 7pm to 7:50pm
+ Last Sunday of month - 2pm to 4pm

The Library is now in the old Government Astronomers’ Office which is in the north west corner of the main building at Melbourne Observatory.

There are currently a large number of books and magazines, surplus to the Library’s needs, for sale. The sale is on-going whenever the Library is open.

For further information contact Barry Cleland, 0418 356 832

Fri 13 December

Junior Section

7.30pm - 9.30pm

Location: ASV Lodge

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

For further information contact Section Director: Chris Rudge

Fri 13 December

Members' Night

8.00pm - 11.00pm

Location: ASV Library, Observatory Gate, Birdwood Ave., Melbourne

Contact: Rod Brown

Sun 15 December

Astrophotography Section meeting

2.30pm - 5.30pm

End of Year Informal Get Together

Location: ASV Lodge
For more information, contact Section Director: Paul Litchen

Mon 16 December

Radio Astronomy

8.00pm - 11.00pm

Radio Astronomy Section meeting
Location: ASV Lodge
For further information contact Section Director: Clint Jeffrey

Tue 17 December

The Diurnals

10.30am - 12.15pm

Location:


Topic: “Cosmic Evolution from the Big Bang to the Big Brain – latest ideas.”
Presenter: Dr. John O’Connor – U3A

Followed by Xmas lunch in Clubroom. (Please bring a plate.)
Location: ASV Lodge
For further information contact Section Director: Patricia Larkin

Wed 18 December

New Astronomers Group (NAG)

7.30pm - 10.30pm

Topic: : How to use a Star Atlas, Planisphere, Starry Night, Stellarium and free charts.
Traditionally this was How to use your Star Atlas. But it has grown to become how to use your Planisphere, Starry Night, Stellarium, free charts you can print yourself. We will also cover apps for your tablet, phablet and phone. Then there are yearbooks or your favourite column from an Astronomy magazine, like Binocular highlights. 
Whatever works really well for you please consider bringing it along to share with other NAG members. After a brief intro I'll hand over to whoever has something to share. So it's BYOD (bring your own device), star atlas, planisphere or whatever you use to navigate the sky. After some basics in Stellarium we will delve a little deeper on some handy features and techniques. 

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

Thu 19 December

Council

7.45pm - 10.15pm

ASV Council meeting
Location: ASV Lodge

Sat 21 December - Sun 22 December

Christmas Star-Be-Que

12.00pm Sat 21-Dec - 11.30am Sun 22-Dec

Sat 28 December - Sun 29 December

Dark Sky Night

7.00pm Sat 28-Dec - 8.00am Sun 29-Dec

Location: LMDSS
Please note that Dark Sky Nights are not an organized event and the criteria for these nights are as follows:-
- is a Saturday night
- has at least two hours dark sky, (that is after Sunset and when twilight ends, and also prior to Sunrise and before twilight starts)
- dark sky is calculated from the times of Astronomical Twilight
- dark sky must start before midnight (or before 0100 Sunday during Australian Eastern Daylight Time

Remember to obtain the gate/clubhouse codes from the ASV webpage

Sun 29 December

Historical Section meeting

1.00pm - 4.00pm

Location: ASV Lodge

For further information, contact Section Director: Rod Brown

Sun 29 December

ASV Library (Members Only)

2.00pm - 4.00pm

Location: Birdwood Ave., Melbourne

The Library is open at the following times:
+ Monthly Meeting - before 6.00 to 7.45pm and after from approx. 10:00 to 10:45pm
+ Members' Night - from 7pm to 7:50pm
+ Last Sunday of month - 2pm to 4pm

The Library is now in the old Government Astronomers’ Office which is in the north west corner of the main building at Melbourne Observatory.
There are currently a large number of books and magazines, surplus to the Library’s needs, for sale. The sale is on-going whenever the Library is open.

For further information contact Barry Cleland, 0418 356 832

Fri 3 January

Sidewalk Astronomy, Bendigo AFTP

8.00pm - 9.30pm

Location: Discovery Science and Technology Centre, 7 Railway Place (opposite Marketplace)


Sidewalk Astronomy is Bendigo's favourite astronomy event and is held every month next to the Discovery Science and Technology Centre, 7 Railway Place (opposite Marketplace). Weather permitting.

Bring the family to see cool astro-stuff through our telescopes, our volunteers will give you a tour of the features of night sky. Small groups welcome.

For more information contact: Brien Blackshaw, Ph 03 5447 7690, Email: secretary@bdas.net

Wed 8 January

Cosmology and Astro-Physics Section Meeting

8.00pm - 10.30pm

Discuss current news in Cosmology and Astro-Physics
Topic:  “Black Hole Information Paradox”  

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

Contact: Ross Berner
Mobile: 0403 167 004
Email: cosmology@asv.net.au

More events: Calendar