ABOUT
The society was founded by two local amateur astronomers Denis Buczynski and David Greenwood. There had been a student astronomical society of sorts at Lancaster University for some time, but Denis and David decided that there was a need for a society, which catered for the general public in Lancaster and Morecambe.
The first meeting of the society took place on January 11th 1978 and a committee was formed with Denis as the first Chairman.
Regular monthly meetings got under way, alternating between St Leonard’s House in Lancaster and Morecambe Library. Subsequent meeting venues included the Trades Hall in Lancaster and the Midland Hotel in Morecambe. Currently meetings are held at the Church of the Ascension, Torrisholme, under the joint Chairmanship of Keith and Steve.
Over the years members interests have been varied, for example, solar and lunar observations, deep sky observations, observing the planets, astrophotography and learning the night sky constellations. Trips by the society have also been organised - to Jodrell Bank, the Amateur Astronomy Centre in Todmorden, Alston Observatory in Longridge and Liverpool Planetarium. The society has had close links with other societies in the area, particularly Preston and District astronomical society and for a time members of these two societies met regularly at the Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory in Preston for “astronomical symposia”. Currently the society along with the Preston, Blackpool and Eddington ( and for a time Furness & South lakes) societies hold an annual Christmas dinner with Dr. Allan Chapman from Oxford University as the after dinner speaker.
The Society continues to thrive in the area, but we are always looking for more people to become interested in this fascinating subject and join us, as we look forward to the next 40 years!