The Observatory, Located on the South Downs
The observatory of the Worthing Astronomical Society came into being in September 1969 when we were given a homemade 12" Newtonian telescope. The black and white photograph shown here shows the telescope with my self as Curator of the Observatory, a position I held for 35 years till 2004 earning me the position of Honorary President. In 2005 the observatory was relocated to a new site just seven miles north of Worthing.
Over the years the telescope was substantially improved and a wooden observatory was built around it that was completed in 1972. It was situated in my back garden in Goring. Over the years very many members, visitors and children groups such as brownies came to use it. It served to educate and entertain as well as gathering useful scientific data for the science of astronomy, in particular the timing of lunar occultations, meteor shower recordings and astrometric data of comets. Also much astro photography was undertaken.
Over the very many years many members have contributed to the success of our observatory in particular Charles Stiff who served as the telescope engineer for eighteen years. There have also been some outstanding observers who should be mentioned and these are Alex VIncent, Paul Scott and Robert Watts who made great use of our observatory.
In 1993 the Worthing Civic lottery gave a grant for a new observatory building that was a 3-metre diameter fibreglass dome. This is shown below at its current location with the original telescope that has over the years undergone many changes.
Today the observatory at its new location continues to serve our members as well as the pupils of the many of neighbouring schools.
In 2005 the society was awarded a grant from the National Lottery, for an 11" f 10 Celestron Schmidt/Cassegrain telescope. This compact design of telescope provides more room inside the dome, thus allowing more people inside at a time. It is also computerised, so by pressing a few buttons, it moves automatically to any desired object. This makes observing sessions with school children and beginners alike, much easier.
Observing with WAS
The Society holds weekly observing sessions at the Observatory, weather permitting, and all members are invited to attend on Thursday evenings from dusk onwards. If anyone wishes to do so, you are advised to phone Graham Boots (01903 505346) on the day to confirm whether it will be going ahead as these evenings are weather dependant. It is also recommended that before your first observing session, you visit during daylight hours to familiarise yourself on how to reach the site and see the equipment. Again, please contact Graham to arrange this.
Members are encouraged to undertake their own observing projects on other evenings.
In addition to the 11" Celestron, the Society also owns a 6" Celestron Schmidt/Cassegrain telescope. This enables us to increase the number of members using the Observatory site at any one time, and also assists in the Society's outreach work with local schools. These schools send parties of children and their teachers to the Observatory, and have been able to see the astronomical delights in the Sussex skies. WAS also owns a solar scope, allowing use of the Observatory during daylight hours and a wide-field scope with CCD camera for astro-imaging.
The Society's weekly observing sessions are complimented with star parties. Please see the Star Parties page for more details, and for a list of celestial objects we recommend for an observing session.
Today, the observatory is managed by a subcommittee and as a member of this group I continue to be involved. The observatory is at a lovely site and is well away from light pollution.
Graham L. Boots
