Welcome to the Society for Popular Astronomy - Society for Popular Astronomy (original) (raw)

Exclusive to members – Popular Astronomy Magazine

The May–June 2026 issue of our bimonthly magazine is out now. It is packed with interesting articles, but you won’t find it in the shops. That’s because Popular Astronomy is available exclusively to members of the Society for Popular Astronomy.

To get your own copy, plus all the other benefits of belonging to Britain’s brightest astronomical society, click here now to become a member of the SPA!

Latest News

It’s May, and the sky doesn’t get truly dark until quite late in the UK, especially in more northerly areas, so you need to stay up late to do your stargazing. But there are still some great sights to be seen without losing sleep. Here’s a quick guide to some of the things that you can find in the May sky.

What’s the best-known constellation? The Plough (or Big Dipper)*? The Southern Cross? Actually, it has to be Orion, because unlike the other two it’s visible the whole world over, it’s very easily recognised and it has more bright stars than any other star pattern.

The International Space Station is making a spectacular series of evening passes over the UK, continuing until the end of January 2026. You can view it from your back garden as long as you have a good view of the sky, so there’s no need to travel anywhere to see it.

Why you should join the SPA!

Featured content

Here is a map of the sky as it will appear from the latitude of London (51° 50′) for May 2026, at 21h UT (GMT).

The SPA runs an annual weekend course where members can observe and learn together.

If you’re interested in astronomy, it stands to reason that you need a telescope, and the bigger the better. But for most of us, there’s a lot of research to do before you can make the plunge. There is a bewildering range of instruments available, but the good news is…

Whatever your interests, we’ve a section to suit you. Get expert advice and send in your own observations.

Learning the sky might seem tricky at first. There are so many stars, and unlike visiting a new town or city, the stars keep on moving around! But don’t give up! With a few tips and tricks, you’ll soon start to tell your Aries from your Aldebaran. The first step is to look at…

The SPA usually holds regular Saturday meetings every three months in London.