Society for Popular Astronomy
Encyclopedia
The Society for Popular Astronomy is a national astronomical society based in the United Kingdom
for beginners to amateur astronomy
.
It was founded in 1953 as the Junior Astronomical Society by experienced amateur astronomers including Patrick Moore
, Ernest Noon and Eric Turner to encourage beginners to the science and to promote astronomy
among the general public.
The term "Junior" was used to denote its role compared to the long-established society the British Astronomical Association
. The name was changed in 1994 to make clear that the society was for beginners of all ages, and for those who wanted a less technical approach. In 2007 a new Young Stargazer category of membership was introduced to cater specifically for members aged under 16.
The society's first patron was Dr J G Porter whose BBC radio
broadcasts about astronomy preceded television's long-running series The Sky At Night
. Since his death, the role has been held by certain Astronomers Royal
. The society's president, who serves a two-year term, is usually a senior professional astronomer
.
The SPA aims to show that astronomy can be fun and to promote an interest in observing the sky among its members. The SPA has a number of observing sections whose work members can participate in. These cover observations of aurorae
, comets, deep sky
, the Moon
, meteors, occultations, the planets, the Sun
and variable stars.
The society publishes a magazine, Popular Astronomy, which from 2011 is being published every two months. Previously it was a quarterly publication, but it now includes material that was carried in now-defunct separate regular printed News Circulars. There is also an email news service to which anyone can subscribe, the Electronic News Bulletins.
Meetings are held quarterly in London
and there is an annual weekend course in Shropshire
. Occasional meetings are held elsewhere including at planetarium
s.
The SPA offers advisory services on choosing a telescope
, computing
, electronic imaging
, photography
and the GCSE astronomy examination.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for beginners to amateur astronomy
Amateur astronomy
Amateur astronomy, also called backyard astronomy and stargazing, is a hobby whose participants enjoy watching the night sky , and the plethora of objects found in it, mainly with portable telescopes and binoculars...
.
It was founded in 1953 as the Junior Astronomical Society by experienced amateur astronomers including Patrick Moore
Patrick Moore
Sir Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore, CBE, FRS, FRAS is a British amateur astronomer who has attained prominent status in astronomy as a writer, researcher, radio commentator and television presenter of the subject, and who is credited as having done more than any other person to raise the profile of...
, Ernest Noon and Eric Turner to encourage beginners to the science and to promote astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
among the general public.
The term "Junior" was used to denote its role compared to the long-established society the British Astronomical Association
British Astronomical Association
The British Astronomical Association is the senior national association of amateur astronomers in the UK.-Function:It encourages observational astronomy by non-professionals in areas which cannot be covered by professional observatories...
. The name was changed in 1994 to make clear that the society was for beginners of all ages, and for those who wanted a less technical approach. In 2007 a new Young Stargazer category of membership was introduced to cater specifically for members aged under 16.
The society's first patron was Dr J G Porter whose BBC radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
broadcasts about astronomy preceded television's long-running series The Sky At Night
The Sky at Night
The Sky at Night is a monthly documentary television programme on astronomy produced by the BBC. The show has had the same permanent presenter, Sir Patrick Moore, from its first airing on 24 April 1957, making it the longest-running programme with the same presenter in television history.The...
. Since his death, the role has been held by certain Astronomers Royal
Astronomer Royal
Astronomer Royal is a senior post in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. There are two officers, the senior being the Astronomer Royal dating from 22 June 1675; the second is the Astronomer Royal for Scotland dating from 1834....
. The society's president, who serves a two-year term, is usually a senior professional astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
.
The SPA aims to show that astronomy can be fun and to promote an interest in observing the sky among its members. The SPA has a number of observing sections whose work members can participate in. These cover observations of aurorae
Aurora (astronomy)
An aurora is a natural light display in the sky particularly in the high latitude regions, caused by the collision of energetic charged particles with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere...
, comets, deep sky
Deep sky
Deep-sky objects are astronomical objects other than individual stars and solar system objects . The classification is used for the most part by amateur astronomers to denote visually observed faint naked eye and telescopic objects such as star clusters, nebulae and galaxies.-Origins and...
, the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
, meteors, occultations, the planets, the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
and variable stars.
The society publishes a magazine, Popular Astronomy, which from 2011 is being published every two months. Previously it was a quarterly publication, but it now includes material that was carried in now-defunct separate regular printed News Circulars. There is also an email news service to which anyone can subscribe, the Electronic News Bulletins.
Meetings are held quarterly in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and there is an annual weekend course in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
. Occasional meetings are held elsewhere including at planetarium
Planetarium
A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation...
s.
The SPA offers advisory services on choosing a telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
, computing
Computing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
, electronic imaging
Digital imaging
Digital imaging or digital image acquisition is the creation of digital images, typically from a physical scene. The term is often assumed to imply or include the processing, compression, storage, printing, and display of such images...
, photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
and the GCSE astronomy examination.
Observing sections
| Section | Description | Director |
| Aurora | Observing the annual occurrence of the aurora and noctilucent cloud | Ian Brantingham |
| Comet | Information and observations of cometary objects | Jonathan Shanklin |
| Deep Sky | Everything beyond our solar system including double stars, galaxies, starclusters and nebulae | Darren Bushnall |
| Lunar | All things related to observing our natural satellite | Peter Grego |
| Meteor | Meteors and how to observe them | Alistair McBeath |
| Occultation | Observing and recording occultation events | Mell Jeffery |
| Planetary | Observing the planets of our solar system | Andrew Robertson |
| Solar | Info and advise on SAFELY viewing and learning more about our nearest star | Richard Bailey |
| Variable Star | The SPA Variable Star Section observes a mixture of naked eye, binocular and telescopic variables | David Scanlan |