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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.

 

 

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

 

Interviews with ASV Sections

ASV Member Elise Bianchi has started a series of podcasts as an assignment for postgraduate studies.

Episode 4  - Elise speaks with Ken Le Marquand, past president of the ASV and section director of the New Astronomers Group. We talk about how the New Astronomers Group has changed over the years, what it has to offer for new members, and how to get involved.
Episode 5 -  Elisa speaks with Jim Pollock, Director of the Great Melbourne Telescope restoration section. Jim tells us about the history and origins of the Great Melbourne Telescope, which was once the largest fully steerable telescope in the world, and the long road to restoring it.

Click here for the interview

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 Monthly Meeting for November 2020 starts at 8:00pm and the topics will be: New Astronomers Group (NAG) and Astrophotography section talk for beginners.

The presentation will be followed by Perry’s Sky for the Month.

 

Crux Magazine for October-November 2020

The October-November 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 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.

Sun 25 October

Solar Section meeting

2.00pm - 4.00pm

Location: Birdwood Avenue, Birdwood Ave, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia

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

Wed 28 October

Council

7.45pm - 10.15pm

ASV Council meeting

Sat 31 October

Howling At The Moon - Halloween Live Stream Special

9.30pm - 11.00pm

Join us for a frightfully good time on October 31st at 9:30pm as we stream live to you the “Halloween Moon”. We will have a thrilling time sharing our knowledge of the moon and answering all of your Moon related questions.

Be sure to come along dressed in your best Halloween Costume and share a photo of yourself in the live stream chat for your chance to win a 1 Year Membership to the ASV.

Please note this event is free and no tickets are required to be purchased. The stream will be played through our Public Facebook and YouTube Page.

Mon 2 November

Computing Section

8.00pm - 10.00pm

For further information contact Section Director: Craig Boyd
Location: ASV Lodge

Wed 4 November

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

Fri 6 November - Sat 7 November

VicSouth - Joint Live Stream Event - ASV/ASSA

9.30pm Fri 6-Nov - 11.00pm Sat 7-Nov

The Astronomical Society of Victoria and the Astronomical Society of South Australia host a joint star party every year in Nhill, however, with restrictions currently in place The VicSouth Desert Spring Star Party will be a little different this year!

Join the Astronomical Society of Victoria and the Astronomical Society of South Australia at the first-ever VicSouth Online Star Party. The star party will be held over two days on the 6 – 7th November 2020, so put the date in your calendar and stay tuned for more information.

Sun 8 November

Astrophotography Section meeting

2.30pm - 4.30pm

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

Wed 11 November

ASV Monthly meeting

8.00pm - 10.00pm

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

Topic: New Astronomers Group (NAG) and Astrophotography section talk for beginners.
The presentation will be followed by Perry’s Sky for the Month  

Where: Live Streamed to YouTube & Facebook

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theasv/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfg1I7CQGrN3VuAvb3VunOw

Fri 13 November

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 14 November

Deep Sky Section

6.00pm - 11.00pm

Location: LMDSS
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

Mon 16 November

Radio Astronomy (via Zoom)

7.45pm - 10.45pm

Radio Astronomy Section meeting
Location: Online Via Zoom
For further information contact Section Director: Clint Jeffrey

Tue 17 November

The Diurnals

10.30am - 12.15pm

Location:

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

Wed 18 November

New Astronomers Group (NAG)

7.30pm - 10.30pm

Topic:  Beginning Astrophotography 

Apparently photographing the night sky is a B-I-G thing. We will be focusing on how to get started with the basics of what you can do with simple equipment. I am particularly looking for some members who can show some of their own photography and share their starting-out stories. Meetings are open to all ASV members.


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

Thu 19 November

Bendigo Section

7.30pm - 10.00pm

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

More events: Calendar