This page is devoted to defining some basic astronomical terms.

To find out when some of these will be visible from the UK, please see the Astronomical Events page

Conjunction

Occurs when two objects align in the sky and appear to be close together

Lunar Eclipse

Occur at full moon as it passes through the shadow of the earth. There are three types

• Total - when the moon passes fully through the umbra of the earth
• Partial - when the moon passes partly through the umbra of the earth and partly through the penumbra
• Penumbral - when the moon passes through the penumbra (little darkening occurs and may not be noticed)

Meteor Shower

Lines in the sky caused as the earth passes through small debris from comets which burns up as it enters the atmosphere. Usually named after the constellation they appear to come from e.g. Leonids from the constellation Leo

The shower can occur over several nights but has a Maximum when the number seen per hour is considerably higher, and it is that night that most amateur astronomers will watch. Depending on the exact time of the maximum compared to the earths rotation, it may not always be visible from the UK

Occultation

Occurs when the moon passes in front of an object

Penumbra

The shadow cast by the earth when it is partially obscuring the sun

Solar Eclipse

Occurs when the moon is directly between the sun and the earth. There are three types

• Total - when by coincidence the various distances mean that the moon appears to be the same size as the sun and therefore completely obscures or eclipses it
• Annular - when the moon is a little farther away and therefore smaller leaving a narrow ring of the sun visible round the moon
• Partial - when the alignment is not exact so the moon appears to take a ‘bite’ out of the sun

Depending where you are on the earth the same eclipse may appear to be total, annular or partial at different locations, or may transition between the types.

Transit

Occurs when Mercury or Venus, which are closer to the sun than earth, pass between us and the sun and are visible passing across the face of the sun

Umbra

The shadow cast by the earth when it is fully obscuring the sun

Light Pollution is an important subject to all astronomers and the problem grows worse.

It is a sad fact that a whole generation is now growing up with little idea that stars exist and are in many cases even unable to see the brightest stars which form the constellations.

We all owe it to future generations to start taking an interest in this subject.

Even people with no particular interest in astronomy start to see the benefits when the cost in both monetary and environmental terms is pointed out.

Whenever there is a building or lighting scheme near you please take the time to ask whether the lights will be properly shielded so that the light goes where it is needed and not straight up into the sky. This is an example of poor lighting. As in the case of many buildings ground level sodium lights have been aimed upwards, in this case to light a church tower, however all that is achieved is to hide the building behind a wall of light with most of the light just going up into the sky.

This was particularly important at the start of the new millennium when there were plans to floodlight 400 churches to celebrate. Higher lights on masts would be better but unsightly during daylight and downward lights bolted to the side of the church would not be possible where it was a listed building, so the issues were not simple. Assurances were given that low energy lights averaging 2 kilowatts would be used with light pollution kept to a minimum. Qualified engineers were to plan all schemes following the Institution of Lighting Engineers "Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Light Pollution".

The British Astronomical Association has formed a joint commission with the International Dark-Sky Association to lobby this issue of Light Pollution called the Campaign for Dark Skies

This page is devoted to visiting places of Astronomical Interest. Where they are known to have a website a link is provided so that you can see their latest contact information, otherwise contact information is provided.

If you know of somewhere of interest which could be added please contact me.

Countries:- England, Scotland, Wales.

ENGLAND

AVON	Herschel House & Museum 19 New King Street, Bath, Avon 01225 311342
BEDFORDSHIRE
BERKSHIRE
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
CAMBRIDGESHIRE	Institute of Astronomy The Observatories, Madingly Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HA 01223 337548 Group visits only Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory University of Cambridge, Department of Physics 01223 337733 Guided tours by arrangement
CHESHIRE	Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre Jodrell Bank, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 9DL 01477 571339
CLEVELAND
CORNWALL	Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station Goonhilly Downs, Helston, Cornwall, TR12 6LQ 01326 22333 Group visits by arrangement
Co. DURHAM
CUMBRIA
DERBYSHIRE
DEVON	Norman Lockyer Observatory Salcombe Hill, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 0NY 01395 568 591
DORSET
ESSEX	Central Museum & Planetarium Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6EW 01702 215131 25 seat planetarium.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
GREATER MANCHESTER
GUERNSEY
HAMPSHIRE
HEREFORD & WORCESTER
HERTFORDSHIRE	University of Hertfordshire Bayfordbury, Hertford, SG13 8LD 01707 285560 Group evening visits Oct. to March
HUMBERSIDE
ISLE of MAN
ISLE of WHITE	Fort Victoria Westhill Lane, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, PO41 0RR 01983 761555 33 seat planetarium.
ISLES of SCILLY
JERSEY
KENT
LANCASHIRE	Astronomy Centre Clough Bank, Bacup Road, Todmorden, Lancashire, OL14 7HW 01706 816964 25 seat planetarium. All visits must be arranged in advance.
LEICESTERSHIRE	The National Space Centre Exploration Drive, Leicester, LE4 5NS 0116 261 0261
LINCOLNSHIRE
LONDON	Greenwich Observatory Greenwich Science Museum Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2DD 0870 870 4868 University of London Observatory Mill Hill Park, London, NW7 2QS 020 8959 0421 Open to the public by appointment
MERSEYSIDE	Liverpool Museum Department of Earth & Physical Sciences, Wiliam Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN 0151 478 4390
MIDDLESEX
NORFOLK
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
NORTHUMBERLAND
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
OXFORDSHIRE
RUTLAND
SHROPSHIRE
SOMERSET
STAFFORDSHIRE
SUFFOLK	Orwell Park Observatory Nacton, near Ipswich
SURREY
SUSSEX	The Observatory Science Centre Herstmonceux Castle Hailsham, East Sussex 01323 832643 Former home of the Royal Greenwich Observatory
TYNE & WEAR
WARWICKSHIRE
WEST MIDLANDS
WILTSHIRE
WORCESTERSHIRE
YORKSHIRE

SCOTLAND

WALES