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.

The Astronomical Society of Victoria would like to say that In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR MEMBERS BELOW

LMDSS NOW OPEN - BOOKINGS REQUIRED

COVID Safe 

LMDSS in accordance with Government Regulations for Venues open in Victoria requires that any attendees will be required to check in via our QR code (or handwritten register) and will also need to show proof of vaccination in-line with the State Government Covid-19 guidelines. This will be checked by an LMDSS committee volunteer to ensure we meet compliance.

The Link for Bookings is available in the Usual manner from the Members Page

 

All I Want For Christmas To Go To The StarBeCue

Dashing to LMDSS, In a car with telescope gear,

Along the roads we go, Hoping skies stay clear.

Songs on the radio, Making spirits bright.

What fun it is to ride and sing Astronomy tonight! Oh!

Astronomy!, Astronomy!, Astronomy all the way!

Oh what fun it is to ride In a car with telescope gear, hey!

Astronomy!, Astronomy!, Astronomy all the way!

Oh what fun it is to ride, In a car with telescope gear, hey!

Now the ground is red, You’re not that far away.

Get the scope out tonight, Hope clouds stay away

Get a view of stars, Open and Globulars,

How about some galaxies, And a few nebula.

Astronomy!, Astronomy!, Astronomy all the way!

Oh! what fun it is to ride, In a car with telescope gear, hey!

Astronomy!, Astronomy!, Astronomy all the way!

Oh! what fun it is to ride, In a car with telescope gear, hey!

Oh, what fun it is to ride In a car with telescope gear, hey!

TICKET LINK HERE - (General Public - Members link sent via Crux Extra)

When: December 11th, 2PM till late

Where: Leon Mow Dark Sky Site

Adult: $15

Kids Under 16: $5

All Day Activities

Kids Activities All Afternoon

Radio Astronomy Display (Radio Astronomy Shed)

Astrophotography Display All Afternoon (In Clubroom)

Scheduled Activities

14:00 - 17:00 - Solar Viewing - Hosted By Russell Cockman

15:30 - 18:00 - Beer/Wine tasting Coliban Wines/Peregrine Ridge

15:30 - 18:00 - Lions Club (BBQ)

16:00 - 16:30 - AAA Presentation - Presented By Mark Iscaro/Chris Rudge

16:30 - 17:30 - Site Tour(s) - Hosted By Chris Rudge/Gavan Salter

18:30 - 19:00 - Astro Trivia Quiz - Hosted By Mark Iscaro/Clare Kenyon

19:00 - 19:15 - Raffle Draw - Hosted By Mark Iscaro/Clare Kenyon

20:00 - 21:00 - What’s Up In The Sky Tonight - Presented By Steve Pattie

21:00 - Till Late - Visual Observing

 

I’m Dreaming Of A Christmas Raffle!

Raffle

$5 Per Ticket!!

Ticket Link: https://bit.ly/3BRLel0

Buy a ticket to our Xmas StarBeCue Raffle and go into the draw for your chance to win an iOptron Skywatcher Astrophotography Package supplied by Sidereal Trading Pty Ltd!!

Prize Kit comes with the following:

iOptron CEM26B Equatorial Centre Balanced Mount with Stainless Steel Tripod

Sky-Watcher EVOSTAR 72ED

Sky-Watcher 0.85x Focal Reducer for ED72

12VDC 7.5A Switchmode Power Supply – with Cigarette Lighter Socket

Sidereal Trading M48 T-Mount for Canon EOS

Sidereal Trading M48 T-Mount for Nikon AI

Raffle Value $3124. 

Prize includes fully insured courier delivery.

Funds raised will go towards the ASV (All Abilities Astronomy Project)

Raffle open to Australian residents only.

Raffle to be drawn at the ASV Members StarBeCue on 11th December 2021 at 7pm.

Winner will be notified by email.

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 meeting is on Wednesday 10th November 2021 starts at 8:00 pm.
Topic:  "Star Words: The etymologies of the names of the planets and other space-related names".
Speaker: Isobel Romero-Shaw, Monash University
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

 

  

  

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 Oct-Nov 2021

The Oct-Nov 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.

Thu 2 December

Space Exploration Section Meeting

8.00pm - 10.00pm

Location: online Zoom
For more information, contact Section Director: Rob Arrowsmith
Email: space@asv.org.au

Fri 3 December

Club Section

8.00pm - 11.00pm


Club Section is the perfect place to meet other ASV members, share your passion and learn about the basics of astronomy in an informal setting. Ideal for new members and long term members and a great way to meet others. Should skies be clear we will open the Lodge observatory roof and use the 20" (500mm) diameter telescope, in addition to the smaller 10”(250mm) diameter Dobsonian telescope to view the heavens.

Meetings are held at the ASV Lodge on the first and last Friday of the month between 8:00pm – 11:00pm.

You are welcome to drop in for as short or as long a visit as you like, during these hours.

Bookings must be made and the link is on the website: https://asv.org.au/member-meetings

PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST PROVIDE CONFIRMATION OF YOUR VACCINATION STATUS UPON ARRIVAL AS PER THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS. SHOULD YOU NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF YOUR VACCINATION STATUS AS PER OUR ENTRY GUIDELINES YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE SITE IMMEDIATELY UPON ARRIVAL AT THE LODGE PLEASE HEAD INSIDE AND CHECK-IN USING THE VIC GOVERNMENT QR code APP & CONFIRM YOUR VACCINATION STATUS.

Tue 7 December

ASV Committee meeting

8.00pm - 10.00pm

Wed 8 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

Wed 8 December

ASV Monthly meeting

8.00pm - 10.00pm

Location: Mueller Auditorium, National Herbarium, Birdwood Ave., Melbourne

Topic: To be advised
Speaker: To be advised

Everybody is welcome and the night will end with a delicious supper and it is FREE
Looking forward to seeing you there.

Fri 10 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

Sat 11 December

Christmas Star-B-Cue

3.00pm - 11.45pm

Watch CRUX Extra for booking links

Sun 12 December

ASV Christmas Star-Be-Cue

12.00am - 11.00am

Bookings essential - watch for CRUX Extra for the booking links

Sat 18 December

Instrument Making Section

2.00pm - 5.00pm

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

Mon 20 December

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 21 December

ASV Committee meeting

8.00pm - 10.00pm

Wed 29 December

Council

7.45pm - 10.15pm

ASV Council meeting

Tue 4 January

ASV Committee meeting

8.00pm - 10.00pm

Wed 5 January

Cosmology and Astro-Physics Section Meeting

8.00pm - 10.30pm

Discuss current news in Cosmology and Astro-Physics
Topic:

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

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

More events: Calendar