Given the outbreak of COVID-19 we have decided to cancel our observing sessions between the 20-25 March and April 17-27. Our April 17th speaker meeting at Nonsuch High School and our school viewing session on the 2nd April are also cancelled. Our priority is first and foremost to follow the Government’s advice and to help reduce and slow the spread of this new Coronavirus. Please stay safe everyone and we hope that normal service will be resumed with the meeting on 8th May if possible.
Further updates will be posted here.
Thank you for your understanding and patience.
While you wait for life to return to normal you might want to look out for Comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) . This is becoming brighter than expected ( currently mag 8) and is visible with a medium telescope in the North East above the Great Bear, URSA Major.
It will come closest to Earth on May 23, 2020. Its perihelion or closest approach to the sun will occur on May 31, 2020.
If predictions are correct, Comet ATLAS might reach Mag +5 around May 1, 2020.
