Astronomical Societies

Hinckley and District Astronomical Society

The Hinckley and District Astronomical Society was formed in 1984. However, in May 2009 the Society disbanded due to falling membership numbers.

There was a tribute to one of the Society's founders, Colin Goodman, in the Leicester Mercury on December 7, 1999.

Leicester Astronomical Society

Leicester Astronomical Society was founded in 1952. Meetings are currently held at the National Space Centre.

Melton and District Astronomical Society

Melton and District Astronomical Society meets at Gaddesby once a month on a Friday.

Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society

The RAS obituary of John William Durrad (1854–1939) mentions the "astronomical section of the Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society". There was a section for "Astronomy, Physics and Chemistry" from 1883-87, but this foundered because of a lack of practical apparatus. There was an "Astronomy" section from 1915-25. It was set up to enable those who had attended two courses of University Extension Lectures on Astronomy in Leicester to do further study. The first paper, read by John William Durrad, was The Constellations. However, due to declining membership, meetings ceased in 1925.

References

Boylan, Patrick (Editor), Exchanging Ideas Dispassionately and without Animosity: The Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society 1835-2010, Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society, 2010.

Lott, F. B., The Centenary Book of the Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society, W. Thornley & Son, 1935.

The Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Catalogue lists: Advertising posters for Leicester Astronomical Society meetings, 1978-1992. There are two posters, one from 1978 and one from 1992.

Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Vol. 94, NO. 2, P. 88, 1984 - letter about formation of Hinckley and District Astronomical Society.

The Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Catalogue lists: Advertising posters for Hinckley & District Astronomical Society meetings, 1999-2006.

Obituary Notices: Fellows :- Durrad, John William, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 1940, Vol. 100, p.238

Wright's Directory of Leicestershire & Rutland, 1899, p290

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Last updated 18th August, 2013.