The Highlands life

Chocolate cake abounded at the September meeting of Highlands Astronomical Society with club members and visitors celebrating 10 years since the opening of our Jim Savage-Lowden Observatory. The observatory, which houses the largest public telescope in the Scottish Highlands and provides stunning views of the night sky for anyone with an interest in astronomy, is located next to Culloden Battlefield.

More chocolate cake was consumed when the public were able to meet our members and see the 14-inch Schmidt Cassegrain catadioptric telescope in its 3m rotating dome along with our club’s other observatory telescopes and examples of our activities at a Highland Council supported Doors Open Day event. Families were entertained with astronomy-related games and learned of our Youngstars group for children aged 8-14 years.

Highlands Astronomical Society is a very active club with public observing

sessions scheduled throughout the long, dark, clear nights of winter, substituted by solar observing in the summer. We’re always keen to welcome new members, so if you want to attend one of our public observing sessions or our monthly meetings, please do.