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.

 

Crux Magazine for October - November 2019

The October-November 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.

Wed 16 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

Wed 16 October

New Astronomers Group (NAG)

7.30pm - 10.30pm

Topic - Observing Challenges
We dig into why the budding amateur astronomer might need an observing challenge. Whether for fun or motivation a challenge can kick-start the Astronomy experience you’re looking for.

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

Fri 18 October

Lunar and Planetary Section meeting

8.00pm - 10.30pm

Location: ASV Lodge
For more information, contact Section Director: Andrea King

Sat 19 October

Instrument Making Section

2.00pm - 5.00pm

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

Sat 19 October - Sun 20 October

Dark Sky Night

6.00pm Sat 19-Oct - 8.00am Sun 20-Oct

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

Mon 21 October

Radio Astronomy

8.00pm - 11.00pm

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

Wed 23 October

Cosmology and Astro-Physics 101

8.00pm - 10.30pm

Cosmology and Astro-Physics 101

“Beginners Cosmology and Astro-Physics”

Note: ASV members only

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

Fri 25 October - Mon 28 October

VicSouth Star Party,

4.00pm Fri 25-Oct - 12.00pm Mon 28-Oct

Location: Desert Lodge, Nhill

Fri 25 October

Club Section meeting

8.00pm - 11.00pm

Club Section meetings are informal and take place on the first and last Friday of the month (public holidays excepted) between 8:00 – 11:00pm at the ASV Lodge.
Come along for a chat, all members welcome.

Sat 26 October - Sun 27 October

Deep Sky Section

6.00pm Sat 26-Oct - 8.00am Sun 27-Oct

Location: LMDSS

Bring a plate to share at supper.

For further information, contact Mark Iscaro, E: deepsky@asv.org.au

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

Sun 27 October

Historical Section meeting

1.00pm - 4.00pm

Location: ASV Lodge

For further information, contact Section Director: Rod Brown

Sun 27 October

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

Wed 30 October

Council

7.45pm - 10.15pm

ASV Council meeting
Location: ASV Lodge

Fri 1 November

Club Section

8.00pm - 11.00pm

Club Section meetings are informal and take place on the first and last Friday of the month (public holidays excepted) between 8:00 – 11:00pm at the ASV Lodge.
Come along for a chat, all members welcome.

More events: Calendar