Links

Astronomical Societies

Professional Astronomy Organisations

• Astronomical Society of Australia (ASA)
• Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF)

Amateur Societies

Australian Capital Territory

• Canberra Astronomical Society (CAS)

New South Wales

• Astronomical Society of New South Wales (ASNSW)
• Northern Sydney Astronomical Society (NSAS)
• Macarthur Astronomical Society Inc (MAS)
• Sutherland Astronomical Society (SASI)
• Western Sydney Amateur Astronomy Group Inc (WSAAG)
• Illawarra Astronomical Society (IAS)
• Astronomical Society of Coonabarabran Inc.
• Central West Astronomical Society
• Newcastle Astronomical Society 
• Shoalhaven Astronomers

South Australia

• Astronomical Society of South Australia

Queensland

• Astronomical Association of Queensland (AAQ)
• Brisbane Astronomical Society (BAS)
• Redlands Astronomical Society (RAS)
• South East Queensland Astronomical Society (SEQAS)
• Southern Astronomical Society (SAS)

Victoria

• Astronomical Society of Victoria Inc (ASV)
• Astronomical Society of Albury-Wodonga (ASAW)
• Astronomy Benalla
• Ballarat Astronomical Society (BAS)
• Latrobe Valley Astronomical Society
• Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society (MPAS)

Tasmania

• Astronomical Society of Tasmania (AST)

Western Australia

• Astronomical Society of Western Australia (ASWA)

New Zealand

• Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ) NZ astronomy society and Affiliated NZ Societies

Suppliers

The following list of suppliers has been obtained from advertisements. The listing does not imply any endorsement of the supplier by NSAS. The list is simply a service to members.

• Adelaide Optical Centre - SA
• Andrews Communications - NSW
• Astro Anarchy - QLD
• Astro Dog - QLD
• Astro Shop - NSW
• Astronomy Alive - VIC
• Advanced Telescope Supplies - NSW
• Bintel - NSW
• ExtraVision - QLD
• OpticsCentral - VIC
• OZScopes - VIC
• ProAstroz - NSW
• SDM Telescopes - VIC
• Sidereal Trading - VIC
• Sirius Optics - QLD
• Telescopes & Astronomy - SA
• Testar - NSW

Software

• NINA - Complete Imaging and control software package (very popular, free and has the latest innovations).
• ASTAP -  the Astrometric STAcking Program - A popular, fast and free plate-solving software.
• PHP2 - The most popular guiding software (free).

 

• SharpCap -  Astronomy camera capture featuring Polar Alignment and Planetary imaging. (paid)
• Firecapture - Astronomy camera capture for Planetary imaging. (free)
• APT - "AstroPhotography Tool" the Swiss army knife for your astro imaging sessions. Also an option for DSLR users. (paid)
• SGPro - Imaging and control software package (a bit dated and paid).

 

• Seti Astro - Image processing software. Seti Astro YouTube channel. (free)
• PixInsight - Image processing software. PixInsight YouTube channel. (paid)
• Siril - Image processing software. (free)
• Stellarium - A planetarium package for Linux, Windows and Mac OS X. (free)
• RC Astro - PixInsight plugins as well as standalone applications. (paid)
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• Photoshop - Layers based image editing software (subscription)
• Afinity Photo 2 - Layers based image editing software (paid)
• Astro Editing macro for Afinity Photo 2

  • JR Astrophotography Macros Workflow aids for astrophotography editing with over 100 macros (paid)

•  
• RTGUI - Windows application that produces observing lists and can control some Goto telescopes.
• Virtual Moon Atlas - Windows application that provides information on the features of the moon.
• PocketStars - Planetarium software for Windows, smartphones and PDAs.
• Cartes du Ciel - Planetarium software for Linux, Windows and Mac OS X.
• StarCalc - A Windows based planetarium package that is expandable to use common databases.
• Voyager and SkyGazer - Planetarium software packages for Windows and Mac OS X users.
• Keith's Image Stacker - Image processing software for the Macintosh system.

 

• SkyTools 4 - Planning software for Windows.
• AstroPlanner - Software for observation planning, visualisation and logging.
• Deep-Sky Planner for Windows - Observation Planning and Logging

Hardware

• Lee Brothers - Nuts & Bolts - 6 Dunlop St, North Parramatta NSW 2151.
• Unihedron - Sky Quality Meter (SQM-L) A meter for measuring sky brightness for astronomers!

Discussion Forums

• IceInSpace - Very active Australian forum.
• Cloudy Nights - A well respected US based forum.

Education

• SAO - Swinburne Astronomy Online - Postgraduate Degree Programs In Astronomy.
• Astronomy Courses - Dr Paul Payne - Adult education courses in Astronomy, Einstein's Relativity and Quantum Physics
• Sydney Observatory - A museum about astronomy with night viewings.

General Information

• Astronomy Picture of the Day - A different picture each day with an explanation.
• Amateur Astronomy Picture of the Day (AAPOD2) - The goal is to collect the best Amateur Astronomy images.
• Lunar Photo of the Day (LPOD) - A different lunar picture each day with an explanation.
• Heavens Above - Site providing tracking information for satellites and sky maps for your location.
• Star of the Week - Site containing comprehensive details for many stars.
• Deep Sky Videos - Site containing many short astronomy videos.

Observing Reference Material

• Interactive Sky Charts - Site containing interactive sky charts and catalogues for deep sky observers.
• Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand - Site containing useful information for Southern Hemisphere observers.
• Deep Sky Hunter Star Atlas - Site containing a printable atlas for deep sky observers.

Observing Themes

• Herschel 400 (PDF) - Herschel 400 (MS Excel download) - Herschel 400 by N.G.C. Number (PDF) List for the Herschel 400.
• Astro-Tom.com - Site containing a list of deep sky objects and tips on their observation.
• Lunar 100 - Site containing a list of lunar objects to observe.

Telescope Tuning, Mounts, Aligning and DIY

• Wooden Parallelogram Binocular Mount - An all wood parallelogram binocular mount.
• Parallelogram Binocular Mount - Parallelogram binocular mount constructed with rectangular hollow section tubing.
• Drift Alignment - Site containing a step by step guide to using the drift method for polar alignment.

ATM (Amateur Telescope Making)

• Mel Bartels' Amateur Telescope Making - Site containing useful information on telescope design.
• Stellafane - Site containing ideas and designs for telescopes.

Solar System

• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  • Science Missions
  • NASA Images
• Minor Planet Center - The official body that deals with astrometric observations and orbits of minor planets (asteroids) and comets.
• The Nine Planets - Site with information on just about every object in the solar system.
• ICQ Comet Information - Site containing information on comets and tips on observing comets.
• International Meteor Organization - Site containing observing methods, results and news on meteors.
• Visual Satellite Observer's Home Page - Site containing information on satellites and satellite observing techniques.
• Space Weather Advisory Outlook - Website of the NOAA / Space Weather Prediction Center.
• Lunar and Planetary Institute - Site containing photos and maps of the moon and planets.
• Sky and Telescope Lunar 100 - Article on the Lunar 100 observing list.
• Shoestring Astronomy Lunar 100 - Site containing the Lunar 100 observing list and images.

Deep Space

• STScI Digitized Sky Survey - Site containing images of astronomical objects selected by name or coordinates.
• American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)

Magazines

• Astronomy Now Online - An online astronomy news site.
• Astronomy Magazine - An online astronomy magazine.
• Sky and Telescope - US based astronomy magazine.
• Sky at Night Magazine - UK based astronomy magazine.