Welcome to
Croydon Astronomical Society
Learn all about us; our history and what we do.
Croydon Astronomical Society. Part 1. History and Background.
Croydon Astronomical Society. Part 2. A Visit to the Norman Fisher Observatory.
Why we're here
Our objectives are to advance education in the science of astronomy and related subjects for the public benefit in Croydon and the surrounding area by:
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encouraging a popular interest in astronomy and allied subjects;
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helping beginners, irrespective of their age, to acquire a knowledge of astronomy and allied subjects; and
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providing facilities for practical work and active participation in astronomical observation.
Croydon Astronomical Society is based in Croydon, just a few miles south of London. We hold public talks approximately every two weeks during school term time and aim to open our observatory to the public every Saturday evening. The society was founded in 1956 and operates through the donation of time from its members and donations of money from its members and visitors. If astronomy is your thing, please consider joining us as a member.
Sat January 3rd. Observatory CLOSED.
We have been talking for days about whether we can open the observatory for public visits this weekend and, after much discussion, have decided that we can't.
The problem is the weather. Forecasts are for clear skies and (apart from a very bright moon washing out the view of fainter objects) it should have been a good night to open. Certainly it is going to be cold. Very cold. We might have put up with that. But the cold causes problems with the telescopes which need to be kept above freezing and also dried out before we lock them away.
But even more of a worry is the threat of icy roads and the path to the observatory. Most of our volunteers come from a fair distance away and driving is likely to be treacherous. We also worry about the safety of visitors to the site.
So we finally decided to give it a miss for this week. We will try again on Saturday 10th January. Keep watching here for updates.
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General things to be aware of if visiting:
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Please note there is NO PARKING on Waterhouse lane. Please park on Hayes lane, by the war memorial. Keep the Waterhouse lane entrance clear for residents to safely enter and exit. If you drive into Waterhouse lane you are likely to get stuck!
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Waterhouse lane to the observatory is dark and can be uneven and sometimes muddy under foot. See our website for directions - we are not easy to find. https://www.croydonastro.org.uk/observatory
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Bring a torch by all means for the lane, but keep it pointed down and turn it off at the observatory please. We have red lights so you can navigate the site well in the dark.
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There are no toilets.
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It will be colder than you think!
Public talks
The Society holds public talks, see the Talks tab for further details. Talks will be held in the Small Hall of Shirley Methodist Church, Shirley. Wel meet on the first and third Fridays of each month.
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Talks are open to all, there is no charge, but we have a suggested donation of £3 towards society funds. Refreshments priced at 50p are available during the break.
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Shirley Methodist is within walking distance of Trinity School and is easily accessible by bus from East Croydon. The postcode is CR0 8SD. There is parking on site but, if it is full, there is ample parking on nearby roads.
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Partial solar eclipse of 29th March 2025
Veil Nebula
May Aurora - Evie Faith Harvey
October Aurora - Graham Cluer
Free talks at Shirley Methodist Church, Croydon.
