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.
Astronomy for the people
Astronomy for the People is an ASV service providing telescopes for schools and public demonstrations. Image by David RolfeMore Info
Membership
Anyone with an interest in astronomy can join the Society. Membership gives you access to the loan telescope program, ASV meetings and our pristine dark sky property.Join now
Image Gallery
View astronomical images taken by members of the ASV - everything from the moon and planets to nebula and far away galaxies.View images
Astrophotography
Our Astrophotography section meets regularly at ASV lodge and has monthly field trips to our dark sky site. The section is very active and new members are always welcome. Read more
Radio Astronomy
Radio Astronomy is a study of the Universe by detecting electromagnetic radiation at different wavelengths. The Radio Astronomy section explores all types of science related topics. Read more
ASV Live Stream Online Star Party
The event will begin on Friday 25th September at 7:30pm and run until Sunday 27th at 4:00pm (each event will have its own live stream). It is free and will be live-streamed through our Facebook page and YouTube channel. So join us on Friday at 7:30pm when we kick off our Online Live-Stream Star Party.
Some of the live-streamed events will be solar viewing, radio astronomy, Sky for the Night and Deep Sky observing, looking at the planets and much more.
For more information about the Astronomical Society of Victoria Online Virtual Star Party
Interviews with ASV Sections
ASV Member Elise Bianchi has started a series of podcasts as an assignment for postgraduate studies.
In this episode, Elisa speaks with Michael Mattiazzo (ASV member), comet hunter and discoverer of eight SWAN comets. We discuss Michael's discovery of Comet C/2020 F8 SWAN, how to view comets, Comet Halley, and more.
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.
Our Monthly Meeting for September 2020 starts at 8pm and will feature a presentation by Mary Adam from the Adelaide Planetarium. Mary will talk on the history of Astronomy from the Big Bang through to Einstein and the discovery of his Gravitational Waves.
Presented by Mary Adam,
Astronomy educator and lecturer,
Adelaide Planetarium, University Of South Australia.
We hope to see you there!
Crux Magazine for August - September 2020
The August-September 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 2020 Yearbook Online
The ASV 2020 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 
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.
Mon 21 September
Radio Astronomy (via Zoom)
7.45pm - 10.45pm
Radio Astronomy Section meeting
Location: Online Via Zoom
For further information contact Section Director: Clint Jeffrey
Wed 23 September
Cosmology and Astro-Physics 101
8.00pm - 10.30pm
Cosmology and Astro-Physics 101
“Beginners Cosmology and Astro-Physics session”
Note: ASV members only
Location: Online Via Zoom
Contact: Ross Berner
Mobile: 0403 167 004
Email: cosmology@asv.net.au
Fri 25 September - Sun 27 September
ASV Virtual Star Party
7.30pm Fri 25-Sep - 4.00pm Sun 27-Sep
Location: Online via Facebook and YouTube
Every year in September the ASV hosts a members-only event known as the Galactic Centre Star Party. Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, we are unable to host this year's event, so we have decided to create an all-new virtual star party which will be live-streamed to Facebook and YouTube. So come along and join the fun.
Some of the live-streamed events will be solar viewing, radio astronomy, Sky for the Night and Deep Sky observing. Pop the date in your calendar with more information to come soon!
Sun 27 September
Solar Section meeting
2.00pm - 4.00pm
Location:
Location: Online Via Zoom
For more information contact: Russ Cockman, Section Director
Email: solar@asv.org.au
Wed 30 September
Council
7.45pm - 10.15pm
ASV Council meeting
Sun 4 October
Astrophotography Section meeting
2.30pm - 4.30pm
Topic: TBA
Presenters: TBA
Location: Zoom
For more information, contact Section Director: Paul Litchen
Mon 5 October
Computing Section
8.00pm - 10.00pm
For further information contact Section Director: Craig Boyd
Location: Zoom
Wed 7 October
Cosmology and Astro-Physics Section Meeting
8.00pm - 10.30pm
Discuss current news in Cosmology and Astro-Physics
Topic:
Location: Zoom
“All Welcome – Bring an Open Mind”
Note: ASV members only
Contact:Ross Berner
Mobile:0403 167 004
Email:cosmology@asv.net.au
Fri 9 October
Junior Section
7.30pm - 9.30pm
Location: Zoom
Meeting times:-
7:00pm - 9:00pm (EST)
7:30pm - 9:30pm (DST)
For further information contact Section Director: Chris Rudge
Wed 14 October
ASV Monthly meeting
8.00pm - 10.00pm
Topic: “The Race to the 150th Anniversary of the GMT”
Documents the work done by past and present members of the ASV and Museum Victoria in preparing the GMT for the anniversary celebrations held on 24 November 2019.
Presenter: Bob Crosthwaite, ASV
Location: Zoom
Thu 15 October
Bendigo Section
7.30pm - 10.00pm
Bendigo District Astronomical Section (BDAS)
For more information, contact Section Director, Noel Harvie E: bendigo@asv.org.au
Fri 16 October
Lunar and Planetary Section meeting
8.00pm - 10.30pm
Location: Zoom
For more information, contact Section Director: Andrea King
Sat 17 October
Instrument Making Section
2.00pm - 5.00pm
Location: Zoom
For further information contact Section Director: Mark Justice
Sat 17 October
Deep Sky Section
7.30pm - 11.00pm
Location: Zoom
If travelling to LMDSS log in at http://asv.org.au/lmdss.php for gate and clubhouse codes.
Bring a plate to share at supper.
For further information, contact Section Director: Paul Gardiner
More events: Calendar