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- Summer Solstice 21/06/2018 Today the sun reaches its highest point in the sky in the northern hemisphere. It's also the first day of summer. This event has a Google Hangouts video call. Join: https://plus.google.com/hangouts/_/richarddarn.com/summer-solstice?hceid=cmljaGFyZGRhcm4uY29tX3MzYXJmNnE2aGVuN2RuZ2E2ZTFlazdnMHZrQGdyb3VwLmNhbGVuZGFyLmdvb2dsZS5jb20.3le2q21rnsbfptlhq9b2fhg76i&hs=121
- Saturn at closest 27/06/2018 The ringed planet is at its closest to the earth this year. But it is low down in the south and reaches its highest (and therefore best) visibility at 1am. Even though we'd like the planet to be higher, you will still see its famous rings in a telescope - a magnification of 35x plus…
- Total Lunar Eclipse 27/07/2018 One of the greatest spectacles in the night sky - the earth will come between the moon and the sun to create a total lunar eclipse. Even though the moon is blocked off from the sun's brilliance, light seeps around the Earth's atmosphere causing it to shift to a red colour and this is projected…
- Perseid Meteor Shower 13/08/2018 – 14/08/2018 The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers. It is produced by comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862. The shower runs annually from July 17 to August 24. It peaks this year on the night of August 12 and the morning of August 13. The thin crescent moon will set early in the…
- Venus looking good 17/08/2018 This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for exceptionally bright planet in the western sky after sunset. This event has a Google Hangouts video call. Join: https://plus.google.com/hangouts/_/richarddarn.com/venus-looking?hceid=cmljaGFyZGRhcm4uY29tX3MzYXJmNnE2aGVuN2RuZ2E2ZTFlazdnMHZrQGdyb3VwLmNhbGVuZGFyLmdvb2dsZS5jb20.3fm1io04uvg0klsp788aqndl5d&hs=121
- Neptune at its best 07/09/2018 The furthest planet reaches it closest approach to Earth. Due to its extreme distance (over two billion miles away) it will only appear as a tiny blue dot in all but the most powerful telescopes. Binoculars will see it as a blue/green star. Just beyond naked eye visibility. This event has a Google Hangouts video…
- Orionid meteor shower 21/10/2018 – 22/10/2018 The lovely Orionids meteor show reaches its peak - up to 20 meteors per hour may be visible from very dark locations. It is produced by dust grains left behind by Comet Halley.. The nearly full moon will block some of the fainter meteors. Best viewing will be after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the…
- Uranus at its best 23/10/2018 The blue-green planet will be at its closest to Earth. Just on the edge of naked eye viability binoculars will show it as a green star like object. Larger telescopes will be needed to see it as a small disc. Look to the southern sky. Use an app or star map to track it down.…
- Kielder Peoples' Starcamp 02/11/2018 – 03/11/2018 Kielder Campsite, Kielder, Hexham NE48 1EJ, UK Another fabulous two night camp out under the stars for beginners with talks, rocket launching, space rocks, workshops and sparkling skies viewed through powerful telescopes. Bookings open in Spring. Put the dates in your diary. This event has a Google Hangouts video call. Join: https://plus.google.com/hangouts/_/richarddarn.com/richard?hceid=cmljaGFyZGRhcm4uY29tX3MzYXJmNnE2aGVuN2RuZ2E2ZTFlazdnMHZrQGdyb3VwLmNhbGVuZGFyLmdvb2dsZS5jb20.0of5nqbhon3fpainsnftgto9i7&hs=121
- Leonid meteor shower 17/11/2018 Once the best of the meteor showers the Leonids these days produces only an average number of shooting stars. The waxing gibbous moon will set shortly after midnight leaving dark skies for what could be a good early morning show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Use your naked eye. This…
