BRIDGEND ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

Established 1981, the Bridgend Astronomical Society (BAS) is now entering its 45th year of existence. Nevertheless, its principles remain the same as they did four and a half decades ago: to welcome all with open arms and offer an entertaining and educational programme of events and talks. The society was founded by three individuals from Bridgend: Joan Hawkins, Laurie Brophy and Frank Morris. To this day, Joan is still a member and supports the BAS at public events whenever she can.

Back in 1981, members would pay just 30p to attend a meeting which included tea and biscuits. Today an annual subscription is £20 per adult and £5 per child, although discounts for families and concessions are available.

Each monthly lecture meeting usually attracts around 30-40 members, with the total membership running at around 75. Speakers usually come from local universities, other societies and members themselves. To accommodate speakers from farther afield, the society will occasionally hold hybrid meetings using Zoom.

Additional short slots from the Observation Officer and Education Officer keep the membership up to date with what is going on in the night sky and with the society’s extensive outreach programme.

As well as members’ observing nights, the society holds astrophotography evenings, public solar gazing, eclipses and planet spotting. In 2025, the group have been extremely busy attending local schools, scout and brownie groups, astronomy shows and field trips for members.

Although Bridgend does not own an observatory, it does possess many telescopes and binoculars, many of which have been donated by members of the public. These are used at a secure observing site, where the society is currently converting a storage container to become a multipurpose meeting point for additional talks – and a control room to link up telescopes outside to screens inside.

Members are also currently working closely with a local country park to conduct more outreach events for the public in the park. Public events are always memorable, especially for special events like eclipses and comets; the society has held many of these over the years. “It’s always refreshing to give someone their first experience of looking through an eyepiece and seeing the rings of Saturn or Jupiter’s Moons. It is especially rewarding when young visitors show so much enthusiasm and respond with amazing questions,” says Jason Mead, the society’s Vice Chair and Observation Officer.

Each year the Society offers short courses via Zoom to new and existing members. This year the offering is a six-week course on ‘Observing the Night Sky’.