About us

Northumberland Astronomical Society, also informally called NASTRO, was formed by a group of local enthusiasts in the Amble area in January 2000.

NASTRO members past and present have worked hard to build a society that has grown from humble beginnings; originally meeting in a small hall in the village of Low Hauxley.  We moved to our current venue in Hauxley Nature Reserve in 2003 and enjoy the support given to us by Northumberland Wildlife Trust (link here).

By 2002 NASTRO had attracted funding to purchase a laptop and data projector to implement a successful public outreach programme and eventually, funding and planning permission to build an observatory to house a research grade 14" Meade LX200 telescope.  The building of the observatory is an ongoing project with completion expected in 2008.

NASTRO continues to rely on the goodwill of local universities to provide excellent guest speakers and on contributions from knowledgeable members of our society and other local societies.  Our past speakers have included discussions on topics as diverse as telescope optics, modern cosmology and a biography of local astronomer Thomas Backhouse!

We have a core of enthusiastic observers with instruments ranging in size from small binoculars and refractors up to much larger instruments.  Everyone is welcome to attend the observing sessions and NASTRO continues to promote amateur astronomy and knowledge of science in general whenever possible.

Website updated on:  February 19th 2008