Things are looking up for local astro club!

The club, which has around 30 members from across Kintyre, meets monthly from August to April, during the night sky observing season, at Campbeltown Picture House. 

It also has observing locations on both the east and west sides of the peninsula, where equipment can be set up under dark skies.

In its first year, the club held nine meetings, including some open to the wider community, along with several observing sessions. Members learned about telescopes, astrophotography, comets, Jupiter’s moons, the Sun and much more.

At the final meeting of the year, members enjoyed a presentation comparing the Apollo moon missions with the recent Artemis II mission, in which the club had some small involvement. 

After signing up to NASA’s ‘Fly Your Name’ initiative, a digital “boarding pass” bearing the club’s name was included on a memory device carried aboard the Artemis II spacecraft as astronauts travelled around the Moon, marking humanity’s return to deep space for the first time in more than 50 years.

The club’s recent funding has been used to purchase three different types of telescope: a large eight-inch Celestron reflector, an S30 Pro SeeStar smartscope and a four-inch Sky-Watcher refractor.

The telescopes were recently used during an observing session at Westport Beach, where members enjoyed close-up views of Jupiter and its moons. The clear, starry night also provided an opportunity to observe and photograph a display of the northern lights.

Further observing equipment and accessories will be purchased ahead of the 2026/27 season, which begins in August.

Anyone in Kintyre and Gigha with an interest in the night sky is encouraged to join, with new members of all ages welcome. 

Email kintyre.stargazing@gmail.com for more information.