Astro Speakers new website is now live

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The new Astro Speakers is now live and has a completely new modern look and more functionality. Perhaps one of the greatest benefits is that Speakers can now join our community directly online and maintain their own details as they introduce new talks, etc. Over 100 speakers offering astronomy related talks already have their details on Astro Speakers. It is hoped that more will be joining soon.

The new website has been made possible by partnering with Go Stargazing. The Go Stargazing website is already a well-established source of information on astronomy events and lectures around the UK that is regularly used by astronomers and those with a general interest in the subject. Neill Sanders, the owner of gostargazing.co.uk, has generously funded the design of the new website and personally completed the development work to get it working. Astro Speakers and Go Stargazing are two not-for-profit ventures run solely for the benefit of the Astronomy community.

Astro Speakers was launched by Graham Winstanley and Glyn de Lacy in 2015, initially with the support of about a dozen speakers. Glyn prepared an attractive and functional site and it has proved popular for societies to fill their lecture programmes and with speakers seeking engagements. Glyn acknowledges that his web skills are outdated, and we have been seeking volunteers to help for some time. Thanks are due to Glyn for the huge number of hours spent on building and maintaining the old website.

Go Stargazing have been active in promoting opportunities for anyone to attend stargazing experiences around the UK at dark sky sites or local society observatories. Through this activity they have been approached by organisations such as hotels, camping sites, etc to supply contacts able to deliver a stargazing experience. Around the country there are many amateur astronomers already doing this through local societies. Astro Speakers would like them to join on our website as it is an opportunity for your or your club to be paid for your outreach.

Astro Speakers is here to help anyone engaged in astronomy outreach to contact their target audience. Also let Go Stargazing know when you are speaking or running an event.

Many well-known amateur and professional astronomers are already members of Astro Speakers and just a few of the positive comments received are:

“I am happy to make a donation. You do a terrific job and I have had some great opportunities (including national TV) on the back of your site.”

“This is an excellent idea, long overdue and just what is needed for astronomy outreach. There has been a real gap in trying to connect those interested in giving talks/presentations etc with those who are looking for volunteers. I would encourage all those who regularly give talks to the public, societies and schools to sign-up to this excellent website.” By a past President of the RAS.

Graham Winstanley is Secretary of Lincoln Astronomical Society and the current Treasurer of the British Astronomical Association.

www.astrospeakers.org