NNHS

Daphnia by John Smith
2026-08-18 19:30 - 21:30 (Europe/London) | Humfrey Rooms, The Humfrey Rooms,, Northampton, Northampton, NN1 1LD, United Kingdom
Daphnia (water fleas), by virtue of their size and the transparency of their shell, are the ideal subject for live microscope study. Tonight we will explore the results of over 250 years of research into the biology of this fascinating freshwater crustacean. Please bring a sample from your own pond or tank if you have one.

The west coast of Norway by Mike Walsh
2026-08-13 14:30 - 16:30 | Humfrey Rooms, The Humfrey Rooms,, Northampton, Northampton, NN1 1LD, United Kingdom
A talk by Mike Walsh Looking at the scenery, locations and history of the region.

The Perseid Meteor shower observation (subject to clear skies)
2026-08-12 21:00 - 23:30 | brampton valley way car park, Brampton Valley Way car park, Brixworth, Northamptonshire, NN6 9DS, United Kingdom
The Moon sets at 10.00pm so prospects are good if the weather is kind. Hopefully a good showing for our annual viewing of one of the best meteor showers of the year. Subject to clear skies we will meet at Brampton valley way car park on the Spratton Road near Brixworth around 9pm to set up. Guests are very welcome to join us to observe the meteors and other celestial highlights visible in the company of our knowledgeable members. Please note there are no refreshments or toilet facilities at the venue.
📱 How to Photograph the Perseid Meteor Shower with Your Phone
🌌 Find somewhere dark. The further you are from streetlights, the better. Give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adjust.
🌠 Where to look: Face north-east after dark. The meteors appear to come from the constellation Perseus, but they can streak across any part of the sky, so keep looking up rather than focusing on one spot.
📱 Keep your phone still. A tripod is ideal, but propping it on a wall, fence or car roof works too.
🍎 iPhone
Use the 1x camera.
Turn on Night Mode and, if it appears, set it to a 30-second exposure.
Use the 3-second timer so you don’t shake the phone.
🤖 Android
Samsung: Use Pro Mode (ISO 800–1600, 20–30 second exposure, focus to Infinity).
Google Pixel: Use Night Sight → Astrophotography mode on a tripod.
✨ Point your camera about 45° above the horizon and don’t zoom in.
⭐ Then be patient! Leave it taking repeated long exposures for 30–60 minutes.
You won’t catch every meteor, but the more photos you take, the better your chances.
Good luck, and if you capture something amazing, don’t forget to share it with us! 🌠📸

Partial Solar eclipse guidance
2026-08-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Northampton
⚠️ VERY IMPORTANT: NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITHOUT APPROPRIATE SOLAR EYE PROTECTION ⚠️
Looking directly at the Sun, even for a few seconds, can cause serious and permanent damage to your eyesight. This applies throughout the eclipse—even when more than 90% of the Sun is covered by the Moon. Ordinary sunglasses are NOT safe. Smoked glass, camera filters and homemade filters are NOT safe.
To look directly at the eclipse, you must use specially made, certified solar eclipse viewing glasses that meet the appropriate safety standards and are undamaged.
If you do not have suitable solar eclipse glasses, DO NOT look directly at the Sun. Use an indirect viewing method instead, such as projecting an image of the eclipse onto white paper using a simple pinhole projector. Never look through the pinhole at the Sun.
Never look at the Sun through binoculars, a telescope, a camera lens or any other optical equipment unless it has a correctly fitted, approved solar filter over the FRONT of the equipment. Looking through unfiltered optical equipment can cause instant and permanent eye damage. Solar eclipse glasses alone are not sufficient protection when looking through binoculars, telescopes or camera viewfinders.
A Spectacular Deep Partial Eclipse
On the evening of Wednesday 12 August 2026, skies across the UK will play host to one of the most impressive astronomical events seen for decades. Although the eclipse will not be total from the UK, more than 90% of the Sun will be covered by the Moon in many parts of the country, creating a spectacular deep partial eclipse. Even more unusually, it will take place as the Sun is setting.
When to Look
The eclipse begins during the early evening, reaches its maximum shortly after 7.00 pm BST and ends shortly after 8.00 pm. Exact timings will vary slightly depending on location. In Northamptonshire, the eclipse is expected to:
Begin at approximately 6.15 pm
Reach maximum eclipse at around 7.11 pm
Finish shortly after 8.00 pm
Finding the Best Viewing Spot
Because the Sun will be low in the sky throughout the eclipse, choose somewhere with:
A clear, unobstructed view towards the west or north-west
As few trees or buildings as possible blocking the horizon
Higher ground, if available
Parks, hills and open countryside may provide excellent views—if the weather cooperates.
⚠️ PLEASE VIEW THE ECLIPSE SAFELY ⚠️
A Great Opportunity for Photography
With the eclipsed Sun hanging low over the horizon, this could be an excellent opportunity to capture dramatic photographs using trees, church spires or landscapes as foregrounds. However, never look through a camera viewfinder at the Sun, and never point a camera or lens at the Sun unless suitable approved solar-filter equipment is correctly fitted. An unfiltered telephoto lens can damage both eyesight and camera equipment.
Fingers Crossed for Clear Skies!
Deep partial eclipses like this are rare from the UK, and the combination of a sunset eclipse and more than 90% coverage makes this one particularly special.
Whether you are a seasoned astronomer or simply curious about the sky, it should be a memorable event—but please enjoy it safely.

Humfrey Rooms let to external organisation
2026-08-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Humfrey Rooms, The Humfrey Rooms,, Northampton, Northampton, NN1 1LD, United Kingdom
The Humfrey Rooms are unavailable to members from 10 am to noon

Humfrey Rooms let to external organisation
2026-08-06 10:30 - 12:30 | Humfrey Rooms, The Humfrey Rooms,, Northampton, Northampton, NN1 1LD, United Kingdom
Rooms are unavailable to members between 10.30am and 12.30

IMPROMPTU PHOTOGRAPHIC NIGHTS.
2026-08-05 20:00 - 22:00 | Humfrey Rooms, The Humfrey Rooms,, Northampton, Northampton, NN1 1LD, United Kingdom
IMPROMPTU PHOTOGRAPHIC NIGHTS. Come along with your camera gear. Subject to be agreed on the night and may be Post Processing (Photoshop, Affinity etc), Still Life, Studio Flash, AV, or anything else you would like to cover. Guests are very welcome to join us where we will gladly assist with photographic queries.

Things that live in leaves by Ian Watson
2026-08-04 19:30 - 21:30 | Humfrey Rooms, The Humfrey Rooms,, Northampton, Northampton, NN1 1LD, United Kingdom
Leaves are the source of much of the food on earth. Going straight to the source and feeding directly on leaves can be a useful life choice. Leaf miners, mites, rusts and various galls all follow this path. We will look at how to spot interesting leaves and the life cycles of a few of the inhabitants of leaves before looking at some prepared specimens (and possibly some live material) under the microscope.

What's going on with the weather?
2026-08-02 14:30 - 16:30 | Humfrey Rooms, The Humfrey Rooms,, Northampton, Northampton, NN1 1LD, United Kingdom

The most dramatic events in the universe by Andrew Blain.
2026-07-27 19:30 - 21:30 | Humfrey Rooms, The Humfrey Rooms,, Northampton, Northampton, NN1 1LD, United Kingdom
Andrew is Professor of observational astronomy at Leicester University. The most dramatic events in the universe on a galaxy wide scale are the ignition of ultra luminous galaxies and quasars. Andrew will describe the objects detected in the 2010 WISE all-sky infrared survey,and what we have learned about them since. Guests are very welcome.

Pompeii and Herculaneum by Mike Walsh
2026-07-23 14:30 - 16:30 | Humfrey Rooms, The Humfrey Rooms,, Northampton, Northampton, NN1 1LD, United Kingdom
Looking at how the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 affected the region and preserved the towns and their contents for us to explore 2000 years later

Impromptu photographic nights
2026-07-22 20:00 - 22:00 | Humfrey Rooms, The Humfrey Rooms,, Northampton, Northampton, NN1 1LD, United Kingdom
Come along with your camera gear. Subject to be agreed on the night and may be Post Processing (Photoshop,Affinity etc), Still Life, Studio Flash, AV, or anything else you would like to cover. Guests are very welcome to join us where we will gladly assist with photographic queries.

Fruit flies by Colin Brooks
2026-07-21 19:30 - 21:30 | Humfrey Rooms, The Humfrey Rooms,, Northampton, Northampton, NN1 1LD, United Kingdom
Colin will describe how he has been collecting data for a national project to assess the impact of native and non-native fruit flies. An opportunity for all to explore a container of previouslycollected specimens to identify species and sex.

Exploring the Society's collections
2026-07-20 11:00 - 13:00 | Humfrey Rooms, The Humfrey Rooms,, Northampton, Northampton, NN1 1LD, United Kingdom
The society has important collections including butterflies, shells, sands, microscopeslides, rocks, minerals and Northamptonshire fossils. is a great opportunity to look at, draw, study or just appreciate their beauty. Also, if you wish to assist us conserving or documenting you would be welcome.

CHANGE OF PLAN Northampton walk replaced by a talk at St Peter’s Church
2026-07-16 14:30 - 16:30 | St Peter’s church, St Peter’s Church Marefair, Northampton, NN1 1SR, United Kingdom
☀️☀️Change of plan for Thursday afternoon☀️☀️
Another very hot afternoon forecast, we have decided to leave the planned walk until a cooler day. Instead, we will spend what promises to be a fascinating — and much cooler! — afternoon inside St Peter’s Church.
We will revisit William Smith’s important contribution to geology, explore his connection with Northampton and visit his gravestone. We will also look at the different building stones used in the church, including four Northamptonshire limestones, hear about George and Anne Baker of Hazlerigg House, and enjoy the magnificent stonework of this beautiful 12th-century church.
📍 Meet at St Peter’s Church, Marefair
🕝 Thursday at 2.30pm
Cold drinks will be available. Please note that there are no toilet facilities at the church; the nearest toilets are at Northampton Railway Station.
