History and Objectives
The Society was founded in 1954 as the Sydney Amateur Astronomers. It was renamed The Astronomical Society of New South Wales in 1964, and was incorporated under The Associations Incorporation Act in 1985.
The ASNSW exists to bring together people interested in Astronomy and related sciences, and to promote public interest and education in Astronomy. We provide Astronomical observing facilities for members, educational lectures for members and the public, and we assist members and the public to select, use and even construct telescopes and related instruments.
We are the largest and most active Astronomy club in New South Wales, and currently have over 450 members from across Australia, and around the world.
Meetings
We hold two meetings per month, at the Epping Creative Centre, on those Friday evenings closest to Full Moon (as moonlight, like city light pollution, interferes with Astronomical observing). Meetings commence at 7.45pm for 8:00pm.
One meeting known as an Ordinary Meeting, will usually have a guest speaker who is a professional Astronomer or other qualified specialist, discussing leading edge technology and developments in the science of Astronomy. The other meeting is known as a Technical meeting, at which members make presentations of their own observing, telescope making, or related activities. General Society business is also carried out during some Technical Meetings, however Special General Meetings are occasionally called for specific purposes from time to time.
The Annual South Pacific Star Party (SPSP)
The ASNSW hosts The Annual South Pacific Star Party, (SPSP) which is an extremely popular get-together of amateur and professional Astronomers from around the world, for observing under superb dark skies, and for socialising with other Astronomers. Anyone is welcome to attend.
The SPSP usually attracts between 300 - 400 amateurs from Australia, and around the world. The 16th Annual SPSP will be held at Wiruna over the weekend of 4 - 6 April, 2008. Registrations are now open.
Observing Sessions
The ASNSW also holds regular monthly observing sessions each month on the weekend nearest new moon, at our Dark Sky Site Wiruna, where about 20-50 members attend with telescopes ranging up to 25”. On the weekends nearest New Moon and Last Quarter moon, we also have the Crago Observatory available for all members.
Overseas and Interstate visitors wishing to join in at either Wiruna or Crago Observatory, should give advance notice so we can assist them more efficiently. March through to May offers great skies, while June through to August can often have cold weather and dewing problems.
Local School Nights
A group of members volunteer to stage observing nights for students at schools around Sydney, using their portable telescopes. These nights are extremely popular, and are in keeping with our charter to promote public interest and education in Astronomy. If you are interested in having the ASNSW host a school night, or similar event, please Email us and we'll do whatever we can to assist you.
Local Astronomy Open Nights
The ASNSW also holds Local Astronomy Open Nights as required, which are designed especially for people who, due to their locality, are unable to attend such local events which are held from time to time around the Metropolitan areas. One such regular event is held at Ilford, in the Ilford Hall (12km from “Wiruna”). This particular event has in the past attracted over 350 locals, and has proved to be a very rewarding experience, for both locals and participating members alike.
Astronomical Publications
Members of the ASNSW also benefit from heavily discounted subscriptions to various Astronomical publications, including:
UNIVERSE - Monthly Journal of the Astronomical Society of New South Wales Inc., renowned world-wide as being one of the highest quality publications produced by an Astronomical Society. Posted free to all current members each month, keeping members in touch with what is happening in the world of Astronomy, as well as providing its readers with a number of personal accounts of observing sessions and Astronomical discoveries.
Astronomy 2008 - Australia's most popular astronomy year book, packed full of information that is essential to all amateur observers, is available to ASNSW members for the specially discounted price of $19.00 at meetings or $21.50 posted in Australia ($25.00 if posted overseas).
Sky & Telescope - A long-running monthly Astronomy magazine produced in the USA, with a combination of articles focussed on both professional and Amateur Astronomy. Available to ASNSW Members at the heavily discounted rate of just $US49.95 per 12 month subscription.
Australian Sky & Telescope - Australian version of the long-running monthly Astronomy magazine, with an Australian focus on both professional and Amateur Astronomy. Available to ASNSW Members at the discounted rate of just $40 per 12 month subscription (6 issues), which is a 15% saving off the cover price.
Society Library - In addition to the abovementioned publications, members of the ASNSW also have access to the Society's Library. With hundreds of titles to choose from, members can borrow materials from the Society Library for a period of up to one month.
Observing Facilities
The Astronomical Society of New South Wales has two main observing sites at which we hold regular observing sessions for our members and visitors alike.
Wiruna (Aboriginal for "Sunset") is a 43 hectare (107 acre) site near Ilford, about 3 hours North West of Sydney, which has a resident 17½” ƒ/4.5 Dobsonian Telescope and a 25” ƒ/5 Obsession Telescope, both housed in a roll-off shed, which is available for use by members. There is also some basic accommodation, as well as camping facilities, flush toilets and hot showers.
Crago Observatory is an observatory with a high class 16” ƒ/7 Dobsonian Telescope, enclosed in a large rotating dome. The Observatory is located on Bowen Mountain, in the Blue Mountains National Park, near North Richmond, about an hour's drive west of Sydney.
The Wiruna Radio Telescope is one of our newest additions to the list of major facilities available to members of the ASNSW. The Radio Telescope consists of a dish approximately 5 metres (16 foot) in diameter, and operates using a frequency of 1420MHz. This frequency is quite significant in Radio Astronomy, as it is the frequency emitted by atomic Hydrogen. A laptop computer is used in conjunction with a "WinRadio 1500e" receiver used to receive and analyse the signals.
Activity Sections and Section Leaders
The Society has a number of highly experienced Section Leaders, dedicated to providing advice to members interested in specific aspects of Astronomy, including Astro Photography, Astro Computing, Radio Astronomy, Solar Observing, the Solar System, Double and Variable Star Observing, Planetary Nebulae Observing, Deep Sky Observing, Telescope Making, and even a Junior Section for our younger members.
Society Awards
The ASNSW has a number of awards which are presented to members who have made a considerable contribution to the society and/or amateur Astronomy. The major awards include the McNiven Medal, The Southern Cross Award, and The Crago Award, as well as Honorary and Life Memberships.
The awards are made at the discretion of the committee, with all three of these awards being presented in the last 12 months to members for their commitment and continued work both within and outside of the Society in the field of Astronomy.
Other Membership Benefits
Membership of the Astronomical Society of New South Wales Inc. has many benefits, including our monthly journal UNIVERSE, posted or emailed (your choice) each month, 20 meetings per year presented by professional and amateur Astronomers, and the opportunity to meet great new friends also interested in Astronomy. Accredited members also have full access to Wiruna, Crago Observatory the Wiruna Radio Telescope, and Society-owned Astronomical equipment, including telescopes up to 25” ƒ/5.
Discounted registration fees for the South Pacific Star Party are another benefit for members, as well as discounted subscriptions to such publications as Astronomy 2008, Sky & Telescope Magazine and Australian Sky & Telescope Magazine.
All this from only $45 per year for Full Membership of the ASNSW! What more could you possibly want from an Astronomical Society? Membership Application Forms are available on the Web Site, and for your convenience you can even join on-line! What are you waiting for? Join Now!
Contact Details
For further information about the Astronomical Society of New South Wales Inc, please feel free to Contact us, at any of the details listed below:
THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF NSW INC.
GPO BOX 1123 SYDNEY NSW 2001
AUSTRALIAPhone: (02) 4572 1568 Fax: (02) 9688 1161 Email: