What is SIGMA (sigma-astro.co.uk)?

Updated

SIGMA is Moray's astronomy club, based in north-east Scotland. It meets on the first Friday of the month (unless otherwise specified) at Alves Village Hall, with doors opening at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. If you are curious about the club, your first meeting is free — the site describes this as a chance to "try before you buy."

Who it is for

SIGMA is aimed at people interested in astronomy in and around Moray. You do not need to be a member to come along to a first meeting. The club also notes that its members can attend meetings of the Highlands Astronomical Society (HAS), which extends the programme available to joiners.

When and where meetings happen

Detail Information
Venue Alves Village Hall
Usual date First Friday of the month
Doors open 7pm
Start time 7.30pm
Exceptions Unless otherwise specified

The published 2026 programme gives a sense of the format. On Friday 6 November 2026, Dr Ken MacTaggart (FBIS, Highlands Astronomical Society) is scheduled to speak on "Debunking the Apollo Moon Hoax Theory." On Friday 4 December 2026, the meeting is a Christmas Quiz. Both entries link to further reading on the site.

What the club offers

  • Monthly meetings with talks and social events such as the Christmas Quiz.
  • Member images — "Images of the Moment" highlights astrophotography from club members, with more available on the club's Flickr pages.
  • Video — SIGMA has a YouTube channel.
  • Branded clothing — members can purchase SIGMA-branded clothing.
  • Updates — the club posts news on X, Facebook and YouTube.

How to get involved

If you want to attend, the simplest route is to turn up at Alves Village Hall on a meeting night — the first meeting is free. For membership questions, the site directs enquiries to the Membership Secretary at [email protected], or to the Membership Information page. The site also has dedicated pages for About SIGMA, Our Committee and What's On for anyone who wants more detail before going along.