The Wessex Astronomical Society (WAS) traces its origins to the amalgamation of the Poole Astronomical Group with the Bournemouth Astronomical Society in 1970 when the combined membership was around twelve persons!

The membership for the past few years has been in the region of 130 and is gathered from around the Wessex region from as far as Weymouth and Dorchester in the west, Sherborne in the north and Fordingbridge and Ringwood in the east

The Society meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne. Meetings normally start with club announcements followed by a lecture by a visiting expert leading into a break of 20 minutes or so for a cup of tea or coffee and informal chat with fellow members or use of the club library. After the break there are contributions from members on items such as the Sky This Month, Object of the Month and members recent experiences, images etc. Meetings end at 10pm.

TO JOIN the Society simply come along to any meeting and ask at the desk. You will be asked to fill in a small form with your contact details and to pay the annual membership fee. This is reduced for juniors or if it's part way through the year.

A map of the centre of Wimborne is shown below.

The Society operates an observatory at Durlston Country Park near Swanage and lays on up to ten public astronomy events there each year.