About NNAS

We are a relatively small group of people (currently about 40 members) who have a common interest in astronomy. Some of us have telescopes but this is not essential as the Society has its own equipment. We arrange guest speaker evenings through the year when we can afford them, covering a wide range of topics by specialists in their field. This year they are to be held this year in General Townsend Club (Royal British Legion), Fakenham.

Recently we have seen the introduction of a fully restored 12 inch Calver telescope, in a purpose built observatory in Wiveton. This is a historic instrument dating from the early years of the last century, and produces fine images of the moon and planets.

Society History
The Society was founded in 1998 by a group of people who had been students at a Local Authority evening class on astronomy taught by Dr. Simon Batty at the Fieldview Astronomy Centre at East Barsham. Dr.Batty kindly allowed the newly fledged society to use the facilities of Fieldview one evening a month and provided encouragement and practical support. Eventually the Speaker evenings outgrew Fieldview and were moved to the village hall nearby, whilst observing evenings continued at Fieldview. Social events took place at members homes and the nearby town of Fakenham.

From the small nucleus of founder members the society has recruited from subsequent classes at Fieldview and by word of mouth and advertising events in local libraries, notice boards and now the web, so if you are interested in amateur astronomy and live in the North Norfolk area please come to one of our events to meet us.

Those of you who are strangers to North Norfolk will be unaware that we are blessed with clear dark night skies. A number of our members are newcomers to the area who seeing a winter night sky away from the light pollution of the cities join us to simply find out more about what they are seeing. Interestingly quite a few members are also bird watchers and already have binoculars and small telescopes.

The society was the award a grant in March 2000 which enabled the society to purchase a Vixen GP 2000L-SM telescope, a Dark Star 7" Dobsonian telescope and a pair of Vixen 10 x 50 binoculars. These are available for members to borrow.

Recently, the Society completed the restoration of a 12 inch Calver telescope, and placed this is a new observatory. This telescope originally belonged to Walter Goodacre (1856 – 1938), who was director of the Lunar Section of the British Astronomical Association (BAA). He made hand drawn maps of the moon using the Calver telescope, and in the 30's published a book of maps of the moon's surface with descriptions of features. The BAA's most prestigious award is named after him - the "Walter Goodacre Medal and Gift", given to an amateur astronomer "in recognition of the recipient's contribution to the progress of astronomy over many years".

After a restoration process and building programme taking three years, the Calver is now in operation and available for use by Society members. It is housed in the "Walter Goodacre Memorial Observatory", known as the WGM observatory at Wiveton.

The society is a registered educational charity.