The Observatory
If the weather permits there are observing sessions open to the public on a Friday evening.
Details of opening times and the site’s location can be found on the Observatory page.
The observatory also opens on the first Sunday morning of the month from 10am until 1pm in support of Abbey Leys Farmers’ Market – again, weather permitting.
Recent Images – Friday Night Observing October 16th 2026
We had a good session on Friday 16th. The sky was hazy but we had great views of the Pleiades through binoculars and Saturn through the 2 optical telescopes. Captured as images were M31 (Andromeda galaxy) using the Dwarf II, and NGC 7510 (Lobster Claw nebula) and NGC 281 (Pacman nebula) both using the RASA.
Meetings
HLCO holds meetings on the second Thursday of each month in St John’s church room (location details here). Talks in astronomy and space research are given by invited experts or members of the HLCO team themselves. A small charge is made for these events. See below for details of future meetings.
We are always on the lookout for speakers. If you have an astronomy-related topic you’d like to share with a group of like-minded individuals, please get in touch by emailing hlco.steering@gmail.com
Upcoming HLCO Meetings
- November 12th 2026
From Apollo to Artemis
Mark Holmes will give an account of Man’s journey to the Moon from the Apollo missions in the 1960s up to the Artemis II flyby earlier this year.
Images: Wikipedia & NASA
- December 10th 2026
Annual Roundup and Quiz
A speedy account of HLCO achievements through the year followed by ….
… the annual quiz. Colin Hay will entertain and challenge us with his usual flair.
There may be prizes, there will certainly be mince pies to go with the tea/coffee.