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Welcome Welcome to OASI. We are a society for anyone who has an interest in astronomy, telescopes, space travel and related matters. Members of OASI span a wide range of interests and abilities, from the interested layman to the advanced amateur. Current membership of OASI numbers around 100, most members living in the areas of Ipswich, south-east Suffolk and north-east Essex. We are based at Orwell Park Observatory in the village of Nacton, near Ipswich, Suffolk, UK. The Observatory contains our telescopes, our library of astronomy magazines, books and videos, and a club room. The facilities of the Observatory are open to members of OASI. OASI was founded in 1967 and is a UK registered charity, no 271313. |
Orwell Park Observatory in the snow, January 2010. |
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Visiting Orwell Park Observatory Individual visits: Individuals are welcome to visit the Observatory on our Open Days. It is not necessary to book in advance for an Open Day - simply turn up on the day! Group visits: We welcome visits to the Observatory by organised groups (e.g. scouts, social groups). Group visits must be arranged in advance. Please email us in good time if you want to arrange a group visit.
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Solar observing at the IYA2009 public event, Astronomy in the Park, 30 May 2009. |
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Observing We encourage observing at the Observatory at our weekly Club Evenings and at other times, using telescopes, binoculars and the naked eye. Telescopes at Orwell Park Observatory available for use by members of OASI include the 26cm f/15 Tomline Refractor, a 48cm Dobsonian reflector constructed by members of OASI and several smaller, modern instruments. We organise occasional field trips to observe meteor showers, grazing lunar occultations and other astronomical phenomena. |
Tomline Refractor. |
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Lectures We host lectures on a wide range of astronomical topics by external speakers and members of OASI.
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Presentations which members of OASI are willing to give to other groups and societies.
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Honorary President, Dr Allan Chapman MA, D.Phil, FRAS and members of the audience after his presidential lecture, 04 May 2007. |
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Astronomy Workshops During each winter season we hold informal astronomical workshops on a range of topics. The workshops are led by experienced presenters, and vary in style from an interactive, guided, discussion to a traditional lecture. Previous topics have covered an eclectic range including telescopes, observing projects, creating a back garden observatory, history of astronomy, cosmology, and many other topics!
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Montage of photos taken during astronomy workshops. |
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Telescope Making Several members of OASI are keen amateur telescope makers. They have constructed a 48cm, f4.5 Dobsonian telescope (known as the OASI Millennium Telescope) and several smaller instruments for use by members of the Society. Over the years, individual members of OASI have also built their own instruments, of varying levels of sophistication, including traditional reflecting telescopes and a Schmidt camera. |
The OASI Millennium Telescope. Other telescope making activities.
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48cm "Millennium Telescope". |
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History of Astronomy We have undertaken extensive research into the history of astronomy in the East Anglian region and more widely in the UK. A particular focus of interest has been John Isaac Plummer (1845-1925), the first and only professional astronomer to be based at Orwell Park. Can you provide any new information on the founding and early years of Orwell Park Observatory - e.g. photographs, press reports? If so, please contact us via the email address to the right. |
Research into the history of astronomy. Information that we would like to obtain about the early history of Orwell Park.
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John Isaac Plummer (1845-1925), a professional astronomer who worked at Orwell Park 1874 - 1890. |
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Social Events Our Christmas Meal and Summer BBQ are firmly established in the Society's calendar. We undertake occasional excursions to astronomical conventions, places of astronomical interest and neighbouring astronomy societies. We also occasionally arrange visits to events of a non-astronomical nature. |
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2008 summer BBQ. |
