LAS meetings are held at the University of Bedfordshire, Putteridge Bury site on the last Thursday evening each month from September to May . June and July meetings are to be held at Sommeries Junior School in Stopsley , Luton during the summer recess at the University. Meetings return to Univ of Bedfordshire ,Putteridge Bury in September. Members benifit from regular LAS Newsletters (Monthly) and e mail updates on events , comets etc that can be viewed by members with modest optical equipment. The LAS also has its own journal 'Countdown' which is produced quarterly and contains members observations , news updates and accounts of LAS events .

Sky Notes

The Red planet Mars recently at its closest distance to Earth until 2016 (Dec 24th 2007) and is visible in the winter skies. The ringed planet Saturn can be seen again in the early evening during the spring .2008 and later on the planet Jupiter will be visible throughout the late spring and into the summer.

Recently the periodic comet 17P (Holmes ) brightened dramatically by a factor of around 450,000 times to become naked eye (Oct 07). Currently the periodic comet 8P (Tuttle ) has brightened to almost naked eye visibility on its way towards the Sun (Late Jan 08) on its 13.8 year journey around the Sun. The comet is well placed for observation using binoculars (Dec 07).before dissappearing southwards in early Jan 08

The next total lunar eclipse is on February 21st 2008 with totality at around 3am ( Lunar eclipses are best seen using binoculars. )

However NEVER look at the Sun with or without any form of optical aid as this can result in permanent eye damage or blindness

LAS Open Evenings in association with Univ of Befordshire are planned during National Science Week (March 2008) when Saturn , Mars and some of the many fine star clusters and nebulae will be viewed using the LAS 0.5 metre telescope and other instruments

See the Open Evenings page or contact Geoff Mitchell for details