The TAS generally holds two meetings per month through the astronomical 'season' from September to April (the timing is largely governed by the availability of sufficiently dark evening skies).All meetings are held at: Torquay Boys' Grammar School, Shiphay Manor Drive, Torquay TQ2 7ELFor directions to the TBGS (in a new window) see map.One meeting per month (generally on the first Thursday) is primarily an 'observational' event. Observational meetings are practical and informal, involving basic astronomy; informal mini lectures; questions and answers; video, photo and slide presentations, etc. A variety of astronomical instruments are available, including a 19.2 inch (0.5metre) computer-controlled Newtonian Reflector telescope equipped with CCD and video cameras, housed within the TBGS observatory.The other monthly meeting (generally on the third Thursday) is a 'lecture' event. Lecture meetings (A.G.M. excepted) have an illustrated talk, informal discussions and observational reports, etc. Lecture meetings are held in the library (enter school via the main entrance and turn left). For observational meetings turn right at the library and go to the end of the corridor. Then turn right through the doors, up the stairs to the first floor, and head towards the back of the school (lab PL4). Both observational and lecture meetings commence at 7.30pm and finish at around 10pm, although observational sessions may last longer if observing conditions are good! We welcome non-members at all of our meetingsOur observational evenings in particular offer an excellent opportunity for younger visitors to experience the night sky 'close up' - often for the first time. Just make sure they've done their homework first!Non-members are asked to pay a small visitor's fee (see below) which is fully refundable against any subsequent membership fees. |
| 2010 September 16 | Hedley Robinson Memorial Lecture by Dr Haley Gomez of Cardiff University: "Dust in Space" (Dr Gomez is currently working on data from the Herschel Space Telescope) |
| October 7 | Observational evening |
| October 21 | (TAS or other Society Speaker TBD) |
| November 4 | Observational evening |
| November 18 | (External speaker TBD) |
| December 1 | Quiz vs North Devon AS (in Barnstaple!) |
| December 2 | Observational evening |
| December 16 | (TAS Speaker plus) book auction |
| 2011 January 6 | Observational evening |
| January 20 | Mini-lectures (titles TBD) |
| February 3 | Observational evening |
| February 17 | Damian Peach (well-known astronomer and astro-photographer): (Title TBD) |
| March 3 | Observational evening |
| March 17 | (TAS or other Society Speaker TBD) |
| April 7 | Observational evening |
| April 28 | Chairman's Annual Address |
| May 19 | Annual General Meeting and Summer 2011 preview |
| June 23 | Summer Social Evening (venue to be decided) |
Also see a list of the society's previous meetings
Annual membership fees become due on 31st October.