Public talks
The Society holds public talks about astronomy at Trinity School, Croydon CR9 7AT approximately every other Thursday during school term time. Our talks are open to all.
The talks are usually held in the Staff Canteen – see Talks location below for directions. Very occasionally the school may ask us to use another room and, if this is the case, details of the alternative room will be posted on this page.
Talks start at 7.30pm sharp and usually finish by 9pm including a break for refreshments. There is no charge but we suggest a donation of £3 per person towards society funds (larger donations are, of course, very welcome). Refreshments (tea & coffee) are available for a nominal charge of 50p. We accept cash and contactless (minimum £1) payments
2024 Talks programme
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Autumn 2024 Programme.​
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September 5th.
A welcome back to Paul Coleman who will give us
"An Update on Solar Eclipses".
A look at past and very recent eclipses.
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September 19th.
Late change of speaker and talk.
We will tonight hear "The Story of Radio Astronomy".
From the early pre-second world war pioneers, through the building of Jodrell Bank and on to Pulsars & Quasars & Radio Galaxies James Fradgley will tell us the story of the development of Radio Astronomy.
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October 3rd.
Dr.Richard Greenwood, Senior Research Fellow at the Open University specialises on studying Meteors and Meteorites. Tonights talk is based on his book:
"A Meteorite Killed My Cow!"
Richard will look at the history of meteors and their importance to life on Earth. Copies of his book will be available at the meeting.
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October 17th.​
Neil Phillipson will look to
"Mans next Giant Leap".
The Artemis mission and its importance for future manned space exploration of the Solar System.
Some of you will remember Neil as the proprietor of "Astronomia", the telescope shop which used to be in Dorking High Street.
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November 7th.
Tonight Dr.Jan Drozd from Wadhurst and Tunbridge Wells Astronomical Society will give a talk on
"Is Anybody Out There?"
Could there be intelligent life elsewhere in our galaxy and how could we recognise their existence?
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November 21st.
Martin Lunn MBE FRAS was for 22 years Curator of Astronomy at the Yorkshire Museum.
He will look at the career of Thomas Cooke, telescope maker.
To own a 6" Cooke Refractor was for decades the aspiration of many amateur astronomers and today they are bought and sold for large sums of money. Hear the story of Cooke and his company and his importance to the development of the telescope.
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December 5th.
Professor David Rees has spoken to us before, but we welcome him back tonight via Zoom.
The May 10/11 2024 Super Storm,
How the strongest coronal mass ejection for 500 years caused the extraordinary display of the Northern Lights visible as far south as southern europe!
Professor of Atmospheric Physics at UCL for 30 years, come and hear the science behind the display.
Also we welcome Robert Watkins who is head of Physics at Warlingham High School.
This year he took a group of students to visit the LHC at CERN, hear the story behind this trip.
Talks location
Trinity School, Shirley Road, Croydon CR9 7AT
If driving, enter the school from the Addiscombe Road A232 and follow the one way road, turning right at the mini roundabout by the exit onto Shirley Road.
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Parking is in the staff car park on the left opposite the main entrance to the school.
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See here for a map of how to get to our meeting room.
Directions to our meeting room from the Addiscombe Road entrance.
Enter via Addiscombe Road. The gates should be open but members will be sent the entry code by email.
You pass the "Boys Entrance" on the right. Keep going to the mini roundabout.
Drive in and soon turn left, signposted "Trinity School Reception"
At the mini roundabout the exit is on the left. Don't go left, go right at the roundabout.
Keep going towards "Exit".
Drive on to the sign for Reception (by the flagpole). Parking is in the staff car park to the left, reception is on the right.
Walk up the steps to Reception.
Once you are in Reception see this map for route to the Staff Canteen where we meet
Hint: to get in through the reception doors you may have to ring the bell. If you get stuck in reception go back out and ring the bell again to speak to the Porters.
Directions by bus
These buses stop outside and all of them connect with East Croydon Railway Station and tram stop.
119: Croydon Airport to Bromley
194: West Croydon to Lower Sydenham
198: Shrublands to Thornton Heath
466: Caterham-on-the-Hill to Addington Village
If coming from East Croydon get off at stop F (Trinity School). If coming the other way than you need stop P.
Trinity School is approximately 10 minutes on foot from the Sandilands tram stop.