Tiverton and Mid Devon Astronomical Society


REGIONAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

URLhttp://www.tivas.org.uk
ContactMeetings at Blundell's School
LocationTiverton / Devon
InfoTiverton A. S. was founded in 1985. We are a group of friendly people who meet around once a month for lectures and talks. We also organise other social events and outings, and offer regular observing sessions to see the wonders of the night sky. Douglas Rice, our chairman, has run the society since its inception. We are a member of the Federation of Astronomical Societies (FAS).

Everyone is welcome to come along and try out a meeting or two without obligation, so if you are a new guest to the group there won't be any membership charges for your first couple of visits. One year's membership costs £12, or £9 for children, senior citizens or if unwaged.

A brief history...
Tiverton Astronomy Society began in 1985, when Graham West convened a gathering of people in the town interested in the subject. Regular meetings began, often with visiting speakers who have covered a wide range of topics from Planetary Geology to Astrology, and from The Soviet Space Programme to Observing the Moon. Visits to other societies and observatories have also been arranged.

Run informally for many years, the society has grown particularly strongly recently. Early in 2000 it became formally constituted.
Our telescope's history

At the time of the society's inauguration Douglas Rice, a teacher at Blundell's School, had recently discovered a fine 8" Newtonian telescope belonging to the school. With the help of a pupil, Nicholas Wood, and advice from Patrick Moore, he restored the instrument to working order. It was built about 1910, is extremely solid with a tube 7 ft long, and is very user-friendly (if you don't mind climbing a step-ladder).

The telescope has been at Blundell's since at least the Second World War. For some years it was situated on the Blundell's clock tower, where it tended to be used by the boys for spying activities! With the school's support the instrument was re-housed in a wheel-off shed near Milestones (now Blundell's Prep School) on Blundell's road (see map). For 15 years it has been the focus for public observing sessions as well as seeing use by pupils and local groups. These days several members also bring their own modern instruments to these sessions.

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Tiverton and Mid Devon Astronomical Society - Regional Astronomical Society - Tiverton / Devon

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