About Us
We're a friendly astronomy group based in Lewes, the county town of East Sussex. Whether you're passionate or just curious about astronomy, an expert or complete novice, everyone is welcome. Our activities are designed to suit all levels of interest, knowledge, and experience within the field of astronomy.
Our heritage dates back five decades as a small group known as the Lewes Astronomers. Astronomy has made significant strides during that time, yet it remains one of the few scientific disciplines in which amateurs can play a useful role.
Relaunched in 2022 as the Lewes Astronomical Society, we now have 165 members and hundreds more supporters on our mailing list. Yet our ethos remains simple: to promote all aspects of astronomy in a friendly and inclusive environment for people living in and around the Lewes area.
Join Us
Our membership season runs for 12 months from 1st September each year. Membership includes free admission to our public talks which are usually presented by a guest speaker. These meetings are normally held on the first Wednesday of each month (except July and August) at the Subud Centre in Lewes, BN7 2DS.
We also arrange other events throughout the year, such as stargazing evenings. Our events are a great way to meet amateurs and professionals in the field of astronomy and make new friends.
Join us now to enjoy full membership until 31st August 2026. See our membership page for more details.
By submitting this form, you agree to our Privacy & Cookies Policies. New members are automatically subscribed to our mailshots when joining our society.
Next Event
AGM, followed by Neutrinos - The Quest for the Ghost Particle
Tony Gwyther
Subud Centre, Lewes BN7 2DS
3rd June 2026 at 7:30pm
The discoveries of X-rays by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895, radioactivity by Henri Becquerel in 1896, and the electron by J. J. Thomson in 1897 revolutionised our understanding of the atom. That same year, Ernest Rutherford identified two new forms of radiation, alpha and beta rays, later adding gamma rays. He would also go on to identify the proton, the positively charged nucleus of the hydrogen atom.
The principle of energy conservation had long been established, but in 1905 Albert Einstein's equation, E=mc2, showed how mass and energy are related. While alpha and gamma decay appeared to obey this principle, beta decay seemed to violate it, as the emitted electrons carried varying amounts of energy. Unwilling to abandon energy conservation, the Austrian physicist Wolfgang Pauli proposed an unseen, electrically neutral particle carrying away the missing energy. He initially called it the neutron, but after James Chadwick discovered the true neutron in 1932, Enrico Fermi renamed Pauli's particle the neutrino, or 'little neutral one', and developed the theory further.
Another 25 years passed before neutrinos were finally detected by Fred Reines and Clyde Cowan. Later experiments by Ray Davis and others studying solar neutrinos helped reveal the nature of one of the most elusive particles in physics. This is their story.
Everyone is welcome. Non-members £4.
Contact Us
For general enquiries about our society, please send an email to secretary@lewesas.org.uk. Alternatively, you are welcome to contact any of the team members shown on our committee page.
Find Us
Our monthly public meetings are held in the Assembly Hall at the newly-renovated Lewes Subud Centre, East Sussex BN7 2DS (formerly Lewes New School). Entrance is in Talbot Terrace. Municipal car parks are free after 5pm. The Brook Street car park is just a few minutes easy walk from the venue.
Latitude 50.8765N Longitude 0.00835E /// tripled.collide.flattens