What the CAA has to offer:

Monthly talks (3rd Friday) from one of the professional astronomers in Cambridge or a visiting speaker.

Two junior sections called Cambridge Young Astronomers. 7 - 11 year age group and 11 + group.

Access to many telescopes including Loan instruments.

Telescopes at the institute, or at our observatory near Ely.

Library

Access to a large library of books, CDs and videos that are available for loan.

Events

Star parties, Visits to places of astronomical interest and other occasional events, See the web pages for details

Membership: 3 alternatives (available to everyone living at the same address)

1. £8 (annual) membership including copies of the bimonthly newsletter Capella which will be posted to you
2. £4 (annual) Copies of Capella which can be down loaded, or all CAA/CYA activities can be seen by visiting our website www.caa-cambridge.co.uk
3. £4 (annual) by standing order mandate, as above, Capella can be down loaded.

Please note. £1 (per session) for visitors or potential members.

1. £8 postal membership: Send a cheque (to CAA) to the treasurer -see below.. You will receive a copy of the next issue of Capella (Jan, Mar, May, Jly etc) as confirmation of your membership but do speak to the Chairman if you don't want to wait that long. Please include a SAE if you require a receipt.
2. £5 website membership: send your cheque to the treasurer. Use the website for further information
3. £4 Standing order mandate membership: .Please fill in the mandate form and send it to the treasurer to arrive before the 1st April and check that your statement has been debited at the end of May. The payments will carry on each year until you cancel them. . (Woolwich members see note on the form)

What happens when you join the CAA?

Usually absolutely nothing! But consider yourself a member once your cheque is in the post. (If you want an acknowledgement, please enclose a SAE). Please note. If you send your £4 or £8 sub off between Christmas and the end of March, you get free membership during this period. We will hang onto you cheques and enter them into our accounts at the start of our financial year (1st April), the only slight snag is that £8 postal members will not receive a newsletter during the free period, but just let Brian know and he'll send you a current copy.

Meeting dates and times.

CAA speaker meetings - 3rd Friday of the Monday at 8 pm (doors open 7.30 pm)

CYA 7 - 11 year olds - the last Saturday of the month 10 am to noon

CYA 11+ group - the first Monday of the month 7.15 to 8.45 pm

Please note, that occasionally dates sometimes change (especially around Christmas/New Year), check our website or Capella for confirmation.

Observing and telescopes.

1. Public observing at the Institute of Astronomy
Run from the beginning of October to the End of March (not between Christmas and New Year. Run from beginning of October to the End of March on Tuesdays starting at 8 pm. Ring Peter Ingram on 01353 661734 between 7 - 7.30 pm to see if observing is on.
2. Loan telescopes. Loan telescopes are available all the year round contact Stanley o 01223 880624 or Andrew on 01480 394946
3. 3 mirror telescope imaging. If you wish to be shown how to image on the 3MT at the Institute contact Chris Traher on 07779 817120 - sessions run from October to March on Thursdays from 8 pm.

Useful contact numbers.

Subscription and financial queries - Sue Roser 01223 893037

CYA (both groups), Meetings, events, Capella and general enquiries - Brian Lister 01223 420954 (evenings) or e-mail btl21@cam.ac.uk (weekdays) Library and Ely observatory Barry Crellin 01223 426498

Loan telescopes - Stanley Trafford 01223 880624 (after 8 pm) or Andrew Page 01480 394946 (evenings)

CAA /CYA Website. www.caa-cambridge.co.uk

Special events.

As well as our regular monthly meetings, we also hold other events:

1. Trips and visits.: We either have these as a separate one for the CAA and another for the CYA or a combined visit once a year.
2. Star parties. We usually have one Star Party (around September/October), although we will organize others to coincide with other events, such as the appearance of a bright comet, an occultation or an eclipse.
3. "Introduction to Astronomy" course This is a joint venture with the Institute of Astronomy (IoA) held each year after the IoA open day usually at the end of National Science Week at the end of March.
4. Other meetings including those by other organizations such as the Federation of Astronomical Societies, some Departments of the University, etc.