Report of The Activities of Solent Amateur Astronomers – CIO from 08/01/2025 to 31/08/2025 Registered Charity Number 1206419
Introduction
Solent Amateur Astronomers (SAA) is a vibrant and very active charity based in Southampton whose stated objectives are:
“to advance the education of the public in the science of astronomy in Southampton and the surrounding area”
There are currently 60 members of SAA whose subscriptions contribute to the maintenance of its facilities and the running of its meetings and activities. However, it is important to remember that all these meetings and activities are open to non members who may make voluntary donations.
There are also 9 active committee members and 6 or 7 other society members who regularly volunteer at the open nights and group visits – see below. The Committee, which includes all 6 trustees, meets monthly by Zoom.
The events and activities undertaken by SAA comprise:
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Talks held on the 3[rd] Tuesday of each month either at Oasis Academy, Lordshill, or by Zoom,
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Open nights at its observatory nr Southampton twice each month, weather permitting, except in June and July.
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Pre-arranged openings of the observatory to groups of visitors, usually from schools, cubs and brownies (Group Visits)
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Occasional openings to observe particular phenomena.
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The publication of a monthly newsletter
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The maintenance of a website
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The maintenance of a Facebook page
Toothill Observatory
During the period in question the observatory opened to the public on 8 occasions as follows: once in February, once in March, once in April, twice in May and twice in August. In addition the observatory opened once in June in the day to show the Sun. Detailed reports were published on our Facebook page and in our monthly newsletter.
A log is kept of all visitors to the observatory. 142 visitors attended during the period and £495 was raised in donations
A maintenance morning was held every Wednesday between 10 and 12.
Other Outreach
On 21/02/24 3 SAA members visited Orchard School in Southampton with a pair of binoculars and a small telescope and showed the pupils: Jupiter, the Moon and the Pleiades.
On 6[th] May 2024 SAA manned a stand at the Nursling & Rownhams May Fair.
Monthly Talks
Public talks were held at Oasis Academy on the 3[rd] Tuesday of each month except January when it was held by Zoom. A link to the Zoom meeting appeared on the website and was sent to all who requested it. £196 was taken in donations at the meetings, defraying the cost of hiring the classroom. Subjects covered are shown in the list below. They were chosen to appeal to all levels of knowledge from basic outreach to 1[st] year undergraduate level.
The program of talks was publicised on the website and the local media and comprised:
16[th] January – The Alien Perspective Dr David Whitehouse
20 February – How Old Is It? Stephen Tonkin 19 March - 300 years of Astronomy in South Africa Prof. Malcolm Coe
16 April - Astrophotography and Image Processing John Tarling
28 May** - Solar Eclipse Chasing Steve McCann
18 June - Mars Rover Jerry Workman
16 July - The High Energy Universe Prof. McHardy
20 August - Quasars and Galaxy Evolution Dr. S Molyneux
Newsletter & Publicity
The newsletter was sent to all members every month, often with supplements containing outreach from NASA. Copies were also available for distribution to members of the public at talks and open nights.
The newsletter gave information on forthcoming meetings and open nights and tables showed upcoming astronomical phenomena.
In addition to publishing the newsletter articles were written for The Scene Magazine, which covers local events – www.scene-media. Our activities were also publicised on the Go Stargazing portal, URL, https://gostargazing.co.uk/ and in the Nursling and Rownhams news.
We also maintained a Facebook page which had 755 members in February 2024. This gave updates on whether scheduled Observatory openings would go ahead later that day, in light of weather forecasts. In addition, members posted observations and astro-photographs. The moderators also
answered queries from members of the public, covering topics such as how to set up telescopes properly and how to observe the night sky.
Website
SAA maintains a website, www.solentastro.org, at the personal expense of the Chairman of Trustees.
The website gives background information about SAA and shows the programs of activities: the Oasis talks and observatory open nights. It also provides links to useful internet resources.
Signed:
A.D Acheson
Chairman of Trustees
| Solent Amateur Astronomers - CIO 1206419 Income Statement January 8th to Aug 31st 2024 8th Jan 31st Aug |
Solent Amateur Astronomers - CIO 1206419 Income Statement January 8th to Aug 31st 2024 8th Jan 31st Aug |
Income Donations & Legacies 869.14 Charitable Activities 0.00 Other Trading Activities 0.00 Investments 0.00 Other 134.75 Notes |
Income Donations & Legacies 869.14 Charitable Activities 0.00 Other Trading Activities 0.00 Investments 0.00 Other 134.75 Notes |
Income Donations & Legacies 869.14 Charitable Activities 0.00 Other Trading Activities 0.00 Investments 0.00 Other 134.75 Notes |
Income Donations & Legacies 869.14 Charitable Activities 0.00 Other Trading Activities 0.00 Investments 0.00 Other 134.75 Notes |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | Charitable Activities 0.00 Other Trading Activities 0.00 Investments 0.00 Other 134.75 Notes |
|||||
| Membership Subscriptions | 134.75) | |||||
| Public Viewing | 494.68) | |||||
| Hire of Equipment | 0.00) | |||||
| Meetings Donations | 196.40) | |||||
| Group Visits/Talks | 0.00) | |||||
| Interest Received | 0.00) | |||||
| Miscellaneous Income | 178.06) | |||||
| Total | 1,003.89) | These accounts reflect activities for only that part of the 2023/24 | ||||
| Expenditure | financial year for which S.A.A was a CIO. Most of the membership subscriptions, for example, were received and accounted for prior to 8th Jan 2024 |
|||||
| Contents Insurance | 0.00) | |||||
| Public Liability Insurance | 53.00) | |||||
| Toothill Maintenance | 147.49) | |||||
| Toothill Ground Rent | 400.00) | |||||
| Toothill Electricity | 293.53) | |||||
| Oasis Academy Rm Hire | 152.41) | |||||
| Newsletter & Administration | 0.00) | |||||
| Speakers' Expenses | 157.70) | |||||
| Zoom Costs | 46.77) | |||||
| F.A.S & SAGAS Affiliation | 20.00) | |||||
| New Facilities and Equipment | 44.98) | |||||
| Miscellaneous Expenses | 0.00) | |||||
| Total | 1,315.88) | |||||
| Accumulated Fund: 08/01/2024 | ||||||
| 3,636.47) | ||||||
| Increase/(Decrease) in Accumulated Fund Accumulated Fund: 31/08/2024 Plus Life Membership Fund: 08/01/2024 Change in Life M/ship 2023/24 Life Membership Fund 31/08/2024 Sinking Fund 08/01/2024 Plus increase in Sinking Fund Sinking Fund 31/08/2024 Observatory Roof Rep. Fund 08/01/2024 Increase in Fund Observatory Roof Rep. Fund 31/08/2024 |
(311.99) | |||||
| 3,324.48) | ||||||
| 0.00) | ||||||
| 0.00) | ||||||
| 0.00) | ||||||
| 2,360.94) | ||||||
| 0.00) | ||||||
| 2,360.94) | ||||||
| 370.27) | ||||||
| 0.00) | ||||||
| 370.27) | ||||||
| Summary of All Funds Opening Balance Movement of Funds Closing Balance |
6,367.68) (311.99) |
|||||
| 6,055.69) | ||||||
| Balance Sheet Assets Less liabilities |
Prepayments Bank Cash in Hand Subs in Advance Acc. Expenses / Creditors |
31/08/2024 Closing 0.00) 7,405.95) 33.49) |
31/08/2024 08/01/2024 Closing Opening 101.25) 6,432.06) 149.37) 7,439.44) 0.00) 315.00) |
08/01/2024 Opening Movement (101.25) 973.89 (115.88) 6,682.68) 770.00 298.75 |
||
| 770.00) 613.75) |
||||||
| 1,383.75) | ||||||
| Net assets | 6,055.69) | |||||
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Comprising
Accumulated Fund 3,324.48 3,636.47 (311.99)
Observatory Roof Fund 370.27 370.27 0.00
Sinking Fund 2,360.94 2,360.94 0.00
Total Funds & Reserves 6,055.69 6,367.68 (311.99)
Notes
A Expenses / Creditors - 31/08/2024
Provision for Increase in Rent 433.75
SAGAS Subscription 15.00
Keyholder Deposits 165.00
613.75
----- End of picture text -----
Signed
A.D Acheson Chairman of Trustees