Residential weekend course, Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026
Preston Montford Field Centre, near Shrewsbury
This year our weekend course covers observing the range of objects in this autumn’s sky, both visually and using imaging techniques, especially using smart scopes such as Seestars and Dwarfs, and with light-polluted skies. With the crescent Moon setting in the early evening there will potentially be a wide range of deep-sky objects on view, including the Andromeda Galaxy, the Pleiades, the Ring Nebula, the Veil Nebula (shown above) and photographic objects such as the Heart Nebula. The planets Saturn, Uranus and Neptune will also be in the sky.
The speakers will be Cath Adams, SPA Council member and cruise lecturer, Stephen Clifton and Trevor Clifton, brothers who combine both smart scopes and conventional imaging, David Davies, advanced astrophotographer, and Robin Scagell, SPA Vice President and author.
The course will be aimed at both beginners and those with some experience, and will cover observation, recording and imaging of the wide range of deep-sky objects that will be on display this autumn. All our speakers observe and image from light-polluted sites so are familiar with the challenges faced by observing and imaging in these conditions.
Topics will include:
- Telescope choice: the effects of focal length and aperture, and type of telescope on both deep-sky and planetary imaging. What can be seen with different instruments and apertures. Choice of mountings for various purposes. Range of eyepieces and accessories.
- Overview of deep-sky objects – their sizes and varying appearances, and their physical characteristics. How their spectra differ.
- Visual observation of the deep sky. Making drawings.
- Imaging the deep sky using smart scopes, DSLRs and astro-cameras. Broadband and narrowband filters.
- Processing deep-sky images. Range of software available.
The location
The society has been holding a weekend course at Preston Montford almost every year since 1977. The location is in the heart of the Shropshire countryside at a Field Studies Centre. Click here for more details of the venue and its location
Observing
We hope to observe on the Friday and Saturday nights if it’s clear. There will be telescopes available and participants are welcome to bring their own instruments. Help will be given on setting up and using telescopes if required. Solar observing may be carried out after lunch on Saturday and Sunday.
Participation
Numbers are limited to 40 participants. There is no age limit in either direction, but participants under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Sessions
The course runs from 6.30 pm on Friday 13 November, but if anyone expects to be later food will be kept for them by request. The course sessions begin at about 8.30 pm on Friday 13 November, and end at 3.30 pm on Sunday 15 November, though people may leave earlier if necessary.
Cost and participation
The cost, which includes full board and accommodation from Friday evening (arrive 6.30 pm) until Sunday afternoon (course finishes 3.30 pm), but not travel to Preston Montford, is £275.00 per person. Some shared rooms are available for families etc at a cost of £255.00 per person. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please let us know if you require a special diet or vegetarian food. There is limited availability of ground-floor and wheelchair-accessible rooms.
How we use your data Personal data supplied when booking will only be used for the purposes of administering the course and will never be disclosed; data will be held securely until the course is complete when it will be deleted (paper records will be shredded).
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Cost: £275.00 on a first-come, first-served basis, with a reduction for shared rooms.
Deposit: For bookings before Friday 12 September 2025 a non-returnable 10% deposit per person is required to secure a place.
Balance of payment: Bookings must be paid in full by Friday 12 September 2025.
Payment methods: Bookings are made online using standard debit or credit cards or PayPal.
Cancellation: If a booking is cancelled, the deposit may not be returned. If the balance due has already been paid when the cancellation is made, the balance will be returned only if the place on the course can be allocated to another person. If cancellation is made seven days or less before the course starts, no refund will be made for whatever reason. It is recommended that all applicants consider the purchase of holiday insurance cover to guard against such contingencies; holiday insurance is widely available from travel agents and multiple store chains.
Personal property: The Society for Popular Astronomy cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to course members’ belongings such as baggage, money, astronomical instruments, etc. These should be covered by members’ own domestic insurance or holiday cover.
Use of material: The teaching material provided during the course is for personal use of the attendees only. Attendees are requested not to share copies of the material on social media or elsewhere without permission from the authors.
How to book for Preston Montford 2026
To book now and pay online, click on the ‘Buy now’ button below.
