Report of The Activities of Solent Amateur Astronomers – CIO from 01/09/2024 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 87 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 16 occasions as follows: twice in September, twice in October, twice in January, once in February, three times in April, and three times in August. Detailed reports were published on our Facebook page and in our monthly newsletter.
A log is kept of all visitors to the observatory. 449 visitors attended during the period and £1,457 was raised in donations.
A maintenance morning was held every Wednesday between 10 and 12.
Other Outreach
In July 2025 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 and December when they were held by Zoom. A link to the Zoom meeting appeared on the website and was sent to all who requested it. £343 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:
| 17/09/24 | Steve Bosley | Measuring the Speed of Light |
|---|---|---|
| 19/11/24 | Dr Sadie Jones | Radio Astronomy and Black Holes. |
| 10/12/24 | Dr Jane Clark | Photographing Galaxies: my Learning Journey |
| 21/01/25 | Hugh Allen | Reaching Across the Gulf of Space - the life and work of |
| William Huggins | ||
| 18/02/25 | Prof.Christian Knigge Cataclysmic Variables As Universal Accretion Laboratories | |
| 18/03/25 | Steve Broadbent | Astronomical Spectroscopy |
| 15/04/25 | Prof. Matt Middleton | Hidden black holes in the Galaxy |
| 20/05/25 | Prof. Nick Evans | The Quantum Gravity Problem |
| 17/06/25 | Jerry Workman | The Curiosity Mission |
| 15/07/25 | Steve Tonkin | Pseudoastronomy: Planet X, Zetans, and Lost Civilisations. |
| 19/08/25 | Derek Haselden | Voyager 1 mission. |
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 each month in the Nursling and Rownhams news.
We also maintained a Facebook page which had 1200 members in August 2025. 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. In the
2024/25 session it received 12,900 visits. At the end of the session the website was transferred to Wordpress and a new hosting platform, Godaddy.
Signed:
A.D Acheson
Chairman of Trustees
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Income Statement up to 31/08/2025
1st Sep Budget Variance Budget
31st Aug 2024/25 2025/26
Income
Membership Subscriptions 1,149.75 1,100.00 49.75 1,100.00
Public Viewing 1,456.70 850.00 606.70 800.00
Hire of Equipment 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Meetings Donations 342.65 250.00 92.65 300.00
Group Visits/Talks 255.15 50.00 205.15 150.00
Interest Received 66.18 25.00 41.18 50.00
Misc Income Sales 230.00
Miscellaneous Income 46.50 50.00 (3.50) 600.00
Total 3,546.93 2,325.00 991.93 3,000.00 Categories in Charity Commission Return
Summary
Expenditure Other 1,700.25
Contents Insurance 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Donation 2,054.50
Public Liability Insurance 55.00 53.00 2.00 55.00 Trading 230.00
Toothill Maintenance 278.28 200.00 78.28 300.00 Investments 66.18
Toothill Ground Rent 135.00 400.00 (265.00) 400.00 4,050.93
Toothill Electricity 441.14 300.00 141.14 450.00 -4,050.93 Reconciliation
Oasis Academy Rm Hire 222.30 216.00 6.30 230.00 0.00
Newsletter & Administration 0.00 40.00 (40.00) 30.00
Speakers' Expenses 278.42 300.00 (21.58) 300.00
Zoom Costs 62.36 60.00 2.36 65.00
F.A.S & SAGAS Affiliation 5.00 20.00 (15.00) 20.00
New Facilities and Equipment 1,686.95 150.00 1,536.95 300.00
Bank Charges 50.00
Contingency Fund Contribution 100.00
Miscellaneous Expenses 42.70 50.00 (7.30) 50.00
Total 3,207.15 1,789.00 1,418.15 2,350.00
Accumulated Fund: 01/09/2024 3,324.48 3,324.48 0.00 3,664.26 01/09/2025
Increase/(Decrease) in Accumulated Fund 339.78 536.00 (426.22) 650.00 increase/(Decr)
Accumulated Fund: 31/08/2025 3,664.26 3,860.48 (196.22) 4,314.26 31/08/2026
Plus Life Membership Fund: 01/09/2024 0.00 0.00 0.00 504.00 01/09/2025
Change in Life M/ship 2024/25 504.00 0.00 504.00 (56.00) increase/(Decr)
Life Membership Fund 31/08/2025 504.00 0.00 504.00 448.00 31/08/2026
Sinking Fund 01/09/2024 2,360.94 2,360.94 0.00 2,360.94 01/09/2025
Plus increase in Sinking Fund 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 increase/(Decr)
Sinking Fund 31/08/2025 2,360.94 2,360.94 0.00 2,360.94 31/08/2026
Contingency Fund 01/09/2024 370.27 370.27 0.00 370.27 01/09/2025
Increase in Fund 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 increase/(Decr)
Observatory Roof Rep. Fund 31/08/2025 370.27 370.27 0.00 470.27 31/08/2026
Summary of All Funds
Opening Balance 6,055.69 6,055.69 0.00 6,899.47
Movement of Funds 843.78 536.00 307.78 694.00
Closing Balance 6,899.47 6,591.69 307.78 7,593.47
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Balance Sheet - 31/08/2025
Assets
Accrued Interest Rec 60.00
Prepayments 0.00
Bank 7,543.77
Cash 181.45
7,785.22
Less liabilities
Subs in Advance 287.00
Acc. Expenses / Credito 598.75
885.75
Net assets 6,899.47
Comprising
Acc Fund 01/09/24 3,324.48
Plus surplus/defecit 339.78
Accumulated Fund 31/08/25 3,664.26
Life Membership 504.00
Roof Replacement Fund 370.27
Insurance Fund 2,360.94
Total Funds & Reserves 6,899.47
Notes
A Expenses / Creditors
Ground Rent 433.75
Key Deposits 165.00
598.75
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