Memories

- Memories -

A look back at the last couple of years in our club, our Speaker Meetings, Outreach Events as well as our Social and Observing Events

For older events look in the 'Archive'

- 2026 A year in Review -

2026 Speaker Meetings

Jan AGM
Stepping into the future of radio astronomy with the Square Kilometre Array Observatory
Dr Wendy Williams

AGM followed by Dr Willaims talk which described the Square Kilometre Array SKA radio telescopes and presented some of the transformational science they will enable: mapping the formation of the first stars and galaxies, tracing galaxy evolution, testing the laws of gravity with pulsars and black holes, and probing cosmic magnetism.
Wendy is Operations Scientist in the SKA Head Quarters at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire.

'"The Women Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of"
Simon Holbeche

Main Topic: The presentation focused on the critical, historical contributions of female astronomers who unlocked the chemical composition of stars.

"You truly brought to life this revolution in stellar astrophysics, brought about against all the odds by the hard work, determination and genius of this group of women known as the Harvard Computers." Hugh Allen

'Messier Night" @ Oakhill

'Astronomy down the pub
'Phoebe and Lisa: Measuring an eclipsing binary star'.
Fred Vanner

'Finding a signal among the noise: Machine Learning for Air Quality Applications'
Lilli Helps: WMA member

By combining satellite and terrestrial observations, critical air quality information can be teased out from background noise using machine learning. Lilli uses her PhD research project at Leicester University to paint a picture of cutting-edge air quality monitoring.
Lilli was a junior member of Wells & Mendip Astronomers before going on to study astrophysics at Leicester University.

Hugh's whistle stop tour before Lilli's talk

2026 Outreach

Wells Community Day

Stargazing with Space Detectives and WMA

- 2025 A year in Review -

2025 Speaker Meetings

Jan AGM
‘Mankind’s next giant leap’
Neil Phillipson

‘Ancient astronomy: Cerne Abbas’
Richard Miles, former BAA President

‘Bad Astronomy at the Movies’
Dr Brad Gibson

‘I found this scope on Amazon’
Andy Hook, WMA

Andy Hook

‘Studying Jupiter's Atmosphere
with the JWST’
Simon Toogood, PhD at Leicester Uni and former WMA junior member

NASA

‘'Members Night'

2025 Social and Observing Events

Messier Night @ Oakhill

Astronomy Down the Pub
Supper at Old Down Inn, Emborough
Josh Dury
‘The life of a professional astrophotographer

Josh Dury

Midsummer BBQ @ Oakhill

Christmas Party @ Oakhill
Bud Budzynski on guitar

2025 Outreach

Supporting Space Detectives
Jan: Hugh Sexy’s Blackford
Jan: Northgate Primary Bridgwater
Apr: Windsor Hill Woods charity event
Oct: Hamp Academy Bridgwater
Oct: Dunster Castle, Exmoor Dark Skies Festival