Professor Ignas Snellen (Leiden Observatory, Leiden University)

With the Moon notably absent, this year's Perseid Meteor shower shows every chance of being an excellent one.

The next popular IAA solar outreach day will be on Sunday 2nd August. 2.00 to 5.00. All the usual attractions - solar observing if clear, telescope display, meteorites to handle, exhibition of space & astronomy items. 'Telescope fixit service'. And of course the ever popular starshows by IAA members.

Here's the news many astronomers have been waiting for since November - As Comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko has moved closer to The Sun, the solar panels on the Philae Lander have been able to generate enough electricity to wake the lander up! We await further news with bated breath!

New Memberships bought from now onwards are valid until 31st August 2016 so join now and get the Summer Events and an additional Stardust magazine included - 15 Months for the price of 12! Join here......

Following a successful AGM we now have a New Council in place for the coming year - see here.........

Following the deliberations of a sub-committee of the council, the decision was made to award the Aidan P Fitzgerald Memorial Medal this year.