BAA Office, PO Box 702, Tonbridge, TN9 9TX
Tel: 0207 734 4145
email: office@britsatro.org
Web: britastro.org
Twitter: @britastro
Facebook: /BritAstro/
Scientific observation
Since the beginning the BAA has encouraged amateurs to make scientifically valuable observations, often in collaboration with professional colleagues.
In the twentieth century, this spirit of scientific observation of the night sky was championed by George Alcock, who discovered five comets and five novae using nothing more than a pair of binoculars.
Today, that tradition lives on in the BAA. Among our members are Tom Boles, who has discovered more than 150 supernovae from his observatory in Suffolk, and Damian Peach who produces some of the best planetary images in the world. Amateurs using imaging equipment have also detected fireballs on Jupiter caused by small asteroids or comets entering its atmosphere. It is staggering how technological developments in recent times now allow amateurs to produce better quality images than captured by professional telescopes just a few decades ago; the BAA Picture of the Week is testament to this.
From simple observations to advanced contributions
You do not need expensive equipment to perform scientifically useful observations. Anyone with binoculars, or simply the naked eye, can contribute to the Variable Star Section and add their observations to its database of nearly 3 million observations. Members of the Variable Star Section regularly contribute observations for professional research, including observations that were analysed for a Nature paper on gravitational waves generated by the binary black hole OJ 287.
Members of the Meteor Section continue to observe meteor showers equipped with a lawn chair, a star chart and a pencil. Other techniques such as video meteor observing have become hugely successful in recent years. The Meteor Section is always happy to mentor new observers who are interested in starting out in this exciting area.
These are just a few examples of what the BAA is about. By joining the Association you will become part of a diverse community of enthusiasts of all levels of ability and with a varied array of interests and expertise
Benefits of membership
- Receive our bi-monthly Journal & annual Handbook
- Online access to the current and historic copies of the Journal and Handbook
- Opportunity to attend many meetings throughout the year, including two weekend long events
- Access to online videos of past meetings with talks by leading experts
- Receive our regular BAA Newsletter, delivered by email
- Get help and advice to develop your skills and access to online tutorials
- Become involved in our observing programmes organised by the BAA Observing Sections
- Participate in our active online discussion Forum
- Present your work on your own BAA Member Page and contribute articles to the Journal
Join us today!
