About the Society

Scarborough and Ryedale Astronomical Society (SARAS) is a Registered Charity in England and Wales, based in North Yorkshire.  SARAS is a member of the Federation of Astronomical Societies (FAS), which provides our Public Liability Insurance.

The society also has institutional membership of the Society for the History of Astronomy and is an affiliated society of the British Astronomical Association and The Society for Popular Astronomy.

One of the aims of the society is to promote the study of Astronomy within Scarborough and the surrounding area. We do this by working with local schools, Scouts and Guide groups to help with their curriculum and astronomy badges; and by hosting public events around the area.

We hold regular public observing sessions at the Low Dalby Astronomy Centre in Dalby Forest, which takes advantage of the dark skies inside the North York Moors National Park. We also arrange for guest speakers at our monthly meetings in East Ayton to talk to our members and visitors on a wide range of astronomical topics.

On Tuesday 8th January 2013 it was announced that the site of the observatories in Dalby Forest had been granted Dark Sky Status by UK Dark Sky Discovery and is now part of the North Yorkshire Moors Dark Sky Reserve.

SARAS currently has around 60 members as of 2024.

Dalby Domes at Night with the BBC Cameras