Year	Society event
1989	On Thursday, 25^th May 1989, due to the efforts of Gary Kewin in both canvassing prospective members, and placing an advert in the local press for persons interested in the formation of an astronomy society, the inaugural meeting of what was to become the Isle of Man Astronomical Society was held at the Creg-ny-Baa Hotel. The founder members were Mike Kelly, James & Shirley Martin, John Place, Howard Parkin, Angela Bridson, Tom Kaneen, and of course, Gary Kewin. Without Gary’s instigation, the Isle of Man would not have the benefit of our excellent Astronomy Society, and he takes great pride in the mature Society that has evolved from his initial concept.
1990	First public star party organised and held at Niarbyl Bay Café, at which Comet Austin was to be seen… almost! Very faint and fuzzy. In December, Howard Parkin managed to arrange the loan of some moon rock, which was displayed at the Isle of Man College.
1991	Meetings of the Society changed to a new venue, the Falcon Cliff Hotel. The Society was contacted by the Leeds Astronomical Society, who had just learned of our existence. A close relationship between the two societies has been maintained since the initial contact, with many exchange visits.
1992	Dr Patrick Moore accepted an invitation from the Society to visit the Isle of Man. He was our first international speaker, and he has since that time been our patron.
1993	Murray Barber, who tours around schools in England with his mobile planetarium, visited the Isle of Man and gave a talk and demonstration of the planetarium.
1994	Howard Parkin gave a talk to the Society entitled “25 Years Since Man Landed On The Moon”. Dr Henry Soper joined the Society, who was later to be instrumental in the current location of our Observatory.
1995	In Poulsom Park just outside of Castletown, we staged a display of the Society’s work, and numerous telescopes were set up for demonstration to the public. As a result of the display, Isle of Man Railways asked the Society if they would stage a star party at the top of Snaefell, the Island’s only mountain peaking at 2,036 feet. The mountain railway ferried stargazers up and down all night, which was estimated to have attracted 500 people, on what was a clear starry night.
1996	The Society purchased from Dr Henry Soper, two fields near Foxdale with a view to building an Observatory. The fields were the site of his 1967 Observatory, from where he took the many meteor photographs which resulted in him being awarded the prestigious British Astronomical Association’s Merlin Medal for his work on meteor spectroscopy through photographs.
1997	A new resident to the Island contacted the Society, expressing his interest in astronomy, and the use of his 10” Meade telescope. Following his first meeting with us, he expressed a desire to build an Observatory for the Society. Initially, this was greeted with amazement, if not disbelief, but the result of that statement of intent is the absolutely excellent Observatory that we have today. The IoMAS website was launched onto a potential world audience by brothers Gary and Simon Kewin, laying the foundations for the site as it appears today.
1998	Howard Parkin was asked by the Isle of Man Post Office to design some stamps for the forthcoming millennium celebrations.
1999	In April, with both financial and other help from our 1997 benefactor, the new Observatory was constructed. The Society celebrated its first 10 years with an exhibition at the Cherry Orchard Hotel in Port Erin, followed by a dinner. At the turn of the century the IoM Post office issued a set of Millennium stamps that showed the IoM millennium skies from an astronomical perspective. The issue was endorsed by our patron, Dr Patrick Moore FRAS, which led to over £1,000 being raised for Society funds
2000	In March, the Island was visited by NASA astronaut James Kelly, who met members of the Society at a lecture held at the Manx Museum. In April, a superb display of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, was seen from all over the Island (and much of the Northern hemisphere). The naming of the Observatory was the major item under discussion at the November General Meeting. Numerous suggestions were put forward but the final consensus agreed “The Isle of Man Observatory” as the title.
2001	Our patron, Dr Patrick Moore receives a knighthood. (BBC announcement). Fire certificate is granted in December, in respect of the Observatory premises. The 2^nd Onchan Scouts became our first visitors to the Observatory, for a talk and tour by Howard Parkin and James Martin.
2002	January began the commencement of monthly Society meetings at the Observatory, with Howard Parkin giving a talk on “The Manx Night Sky In 2002”. April was to be our first ever visiting speaker Murray Barber, covering the V2 rockets and the birth of the space age. In May, Society members witnessed the conjunction of all five naked eye planets from the Observatory. In the same month a Supernova in Aquila was seen from the Observatory, by IoMAS member Dave Storey.
2003	After some years of fund raising, and help from the Isle of Man Public Lottery Trust, we finally took delivery in June of our new 16” Meade Telescope. August sees the completion of the telescope installation and first light.
2004	On 21st February, a Sponsors’ Night was held for the many people and organisations that had made the dream of an Observatory a reality. On 8^th June, a Transit of Venus watch took place at the Observatory. In July, the Lieutenant Governor His Excellency Air Marshall Ian MacFadyen toured the Observatory, and took great interest in the operation of the telescope. The British Astronomical Association held their out-of-London meeting in the Isle of Man at the Manx Museum in Douglas. During the weekend visit, BAA members toured the Society’s Observatory, and subsequently rated it as one of the best amateur facilities in the British Isles. “Mann In Space” exhibition took place at the House of Manannan in Peel between 20^th July and 14^th September, where one of the largest samples of moon rock that NASA loan out, was on display. The Society was well represented at the display, with one of the “guards” our very own founder member, James Martin. Mike Kelly, Founder member and Chairman since our inauguration with 15 years service to his credit, decided to step down, and at the AGM, a new Chairman was elected, also a founder member, Howard Parkin.
2005	Dr Henry Soper sadly passed away. His work in spectroscopy and the BAA Merlin Medal he received in recognition of this work will not readily be matched. Melvyn Taylor, a member of both the Isle of Man Astronomical Society and the Leeds Astronomical Society, was awarded the BAA Merlin Medal for his services to astronomy. He has made over 80,000 variable star observations.
2006	IoMAS members observe in March, the total eclipse of the sun from Ghana and Turkey, with members on the IoM observing a partial eclipse. Dr Ian Morison (aka The Voice of Jodrell Bank) gives a talk at the September AGM on his exploits of observing and what may be the future of the SETI programme.
2007	Members of the Cambridge University Geology department give the first talk of the year at the Observatory outlining details as recorded by the on-site seismometer These reveal that the I.O.M. is resting on a huge 'magma bubble' of what is fortunately, now solid rock. The March total eclipse of the Moon, which was very colourful, was observed by many IoMAS members. The August meeting plays host to the Observatory’s first 'Star-B-Q' is and is very well received by those who attended. The October monthly meeting coincides with the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1 on 4th October 1957. Several members recount their childhood memories of the occasion. November sees Comet 17p Holmes observed and photographed by members as it brightens unexpectedly.
2008	August saw the Observatory host a visit by a group of Children from Chernobyl. “The Astronomer” magazine presents Dave Storey with 'The Alan Young Award' for best cover material for the magazine.
2009	In Februrary, Mrs Helen Boase sadly passed away. Helen attended the AGMs and presented the Society's top award, the 'John Boase Shield' for observer of the year. Two public meetings in March were held in support of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 were held at the “Cat With No Tail” public house on the outskirts of Douglas. The primary aim of the meetings, that of offering members of the public the opportunity to view the night skies through telescopes and binoculars, proved very successful. In May, the Society's 20th anniversary dinner was held at the Creg Ny Baa hotel with the after dinner speaker, Mr Nick James (Papers Secretary, British Astronomical Association), giving a talk on the discoveries in astronomy over the past 20 years. Society members pay a visit in September to the Excalibur Almaz Space Capsule presentation at King William's College. October saw school children from around the Isle of Man attend a 'Live Link' held at the Manx Museum where Nicole Stott from on board the International Space Station, answers questions set by some of the children in a two-way video link. A limited number of IoMAS members were very fortunate to be in attendance at this historic event. The Society holds its very first “open evening” for the public at the observatory, as part of the celebrations of the International Year of Astronomy 2009.
2010	In celebration of the 20^th anniversary of the IoMAS in 2009, the “History of the Isle of Man Astronomical Society – The First Twenty Years” is finally published. A 132 page full colour soft back book, priced at £15, represents astonishing value given all that went into producing this.