WHAT’S ON
Observatory Science Centre, Herstmonceux, East Sussex, 8 December, 6.30pm
December marks the 50th anniversary of Apollo 8, when on Christmas Eve NASA astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell and Bill Anders became the first humans to circumnavigate the Moon. This special open evening at the famous Observatory Science Centre will begin with a presentation on Apollo 8 by Robin Mobbs, a lead educator at the UK’s National Space Academy. After that, visitors will be invited to take part in a spot of stargazing.
Interesting targets to see on the night include Uranus and Neptune along with deep-sky objects like the Andromeda Galaxy, while the constellation of Orion will be high in the sky, offering the chance to view the Orion Nebula. The open evening also coincides with the beginning of the Geminid meteor shower, one of the more regularly prodigious of the annual meteor showers.
Join the team at Herstmonceux and view some of these targets through the Observatory’s telescopes. Observing is weather-dependent, so contact Herstmonceux on the day to make sure the observing is still going ahead.
Admission is £8.25 for adults, £6.25 for those under 16 and there are also group discounts for families available. For more information and ticket prices, visit the observatory website. www.the-observatory.org/open-evenings