Mexborough & Swinton Astronomical Society
Encyclopedia
Mexborough & Swinton Astronomical Society is a society and charity based in Swinton
, South Yorkshire
, England
. Founded on 21 May 1978 as "The Night Sky Astronomy Club" it amalgamated with "The Mexborough Astronomy Club" in late 1978 and became the "Mexborough & Swinton Astronomical Society".
It applied for and successfully achieved Charitable Status in 1997.
The society original met in a room at St Johns Church in Swinton. In 1980 Swinton Working Men's Club were approached to allow the society use of an upstairs room, where it still meets on a weekly basis.
Guest lecturers visit the society approximately monthly. Quarterly the society's Observations Officer gives the members an overview of celestial phenomena expected over the next three months and usually issues an observing challenge for the next quarter. Other meetings will find members giving presentations on astronomical subjects of their choice, astronomical quizzes and debates.
The society currently has around 50 members, from throughout South Yorkshire, representing all parts of the community. The society's Honorary President is currently Dr. Allan Chapman of Wadham College, Oxford
It owns and operates the J.A.Jones Hoober Observatory
, located near Hoober Stand
to the north of Rotherham
, which it makes available for public viewing and observing sessions throughout the year.
Swinton, South Yorkshire
Swinton is a suburban town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham, in South Yorkshire, England on part of the west bank of the River Don...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Founded on 21 May 1978 as "The Night Sky Astronomy Club" it amalgamated with "The Mexborough Astronomy Club" in late 1978 and became the "Mexborough & Swinton Astronomical Society".
It applied for and successfully achieved Charitable Status in 1997.
The society original met in a room at St Johns Church in Swinton. In 1980 Swinton Working Men's Club were approached to allow the society use of an upstairs room, where it still meets on a weekly basis.
Guest lecturers visit the society approximately monthly. Quarterly the society's Observations Officer gives the members an overview of celestial phenomena expected over the next three months and usually issues an observing challenge for the next quarter. Other meetings will find members giving presentations on astronomical subjects of their choice, astronomical quizzes and debates.
The society currently has around 50 members, from throughout South Yorkshire, representing all parts of the community. The society's Honorary President is currently Dr. Allan Chapman of Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
It owns and operates the J.A.Jones Hoober Observatory
Hoober Observatory
J A Jones Hoober Observatory is a privately owned observatory located in South Yorkshire, England near to the villages of Hoober and Wentworth, North-northwest of Rotherham. It can be found about east of Hoober Stand...
, located near Hoober Stand
Hoober Stand
Hoober Stand is a high building situated on a ridge in Wentworth, South Yorkshire in northern England. It was designed by Henry Flitcroft for the Whig aristocrat Thomas Watson-Wentworth, Earl of Malton to commemorate the quashing of the 1745 Jacobite rebellion, and lies close to his country...
to the north of Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
, which it makes available for public viewing and observing sessions throughout the year.