Society for Popular Astronomy – Stargazing for everyone

Mission to Mercury

A mission to Mercury called BepiColombo is due to launch in October. Professor Dave Rothery of the Open University will tell us all about it at our July meeting.

Vesta at its brightest

Asteroid Vesta is usually a tricky object to find, even with binoculars. But this month it is brighter than it has been since 1960, so use our guide to find it for yourself.

Return of the Sound of Astronomy!

We pioneered the astronomical audio magazine in the mid-Sixties, published on magnetic tape! Now, after half a century, the Sound of Astronomy is back as a podcast.

Our magazine - just for members

Catch up on the latest space and society news. The magazine is aimed at beginners of all ages and is published six times a year.

Come and join us!

If YOU are interested in stars and space, you’ll find a warm welcome in the SPA. Don’t worry if you are just starting out - we are here specially to support beginners!

Meetings and Events

The SPA holds regular Saturday meetings every three months in London.

Our observing sections

Whatever your interests, we’ve a section to suit you. Get expert advice and send in your own observations.

Click here to find out about this year’s Preston Montford Weekend Course, 30 November – 2 December 2018, on Seeing Stars About the courses The SPA runs an annual weekend course where members can observe and learn together. It combines aRead more

The sky this month

Here is a map of the sky as it will appear from the latitude of London (51° 50′) in mid June, 2018, at 22h UT (GMT).

How to get started in stargazing

Learning the sky might seem tricky at first. There are so many stars, and unlike visiting a new town or city, the stars keep on moving around!

Choosing a telescope

If you’re interested in astronomy, it stands to reason that you need a telescope, and the bigger the better.