Summer stargazing, and a new-found appreciation for the Moon …

First published in the June 2023 edition of The West Dorset Magazine Well, with the solstice nearly upon us, and the few hours of actual darkness only available to dedicated night owls, it may not the best time to be trying to write an astronomy column, but here goes … Planets - it's not the …

Some astro-inspiration from Namibia …

First published in issue 17 of the West Dorset Magazine, October 2022 As I mentioned in my last article (issue 15) I was just about to jet off for a ten-day stargazing adventure in darkest Namibia. Originally regarded as a ’once in a lifetime, bucket list’ affair, such was the breathtaking nature of the experience, …

Day three at Tivoli Astro farm, and the list of superlatives continues to grow…

Spent two hours yesterday out in the bush, sitting under a tree, and saw the most Oryx I've ever seen around a Namibian water hole ... 🤣 Last night was our second night out with 'Big Dob' (the biggest scope I've ever looked through), and the best ever telescopic views, the Lagoon nebula, for example, …

First day at Tivoli Astrofarm in Namibia … and it’s amazing

Wow! I’m in actual flippin Namibia… a stargazing dream come true. 32 hours after leaving the house, we’re here, and it’s amazing. I honestly don’t know why more people in the UK aren’t raving about this place, it’s quite well known in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Sweden. Anyway, I’m too tired and too excited to …

Highlights of the summer night sky (part two) …

First published in issue 11 of the West Dorset Magazine, July 2022 As I discussed in my last piece (WDM issue 9), and even though we’re now past the solstice, the nights are still way too bright and short for stargazing, and the opportunities, although still there, are really only for those able to stay …

Stargazing in the summer time …

First published in issue 9 of the West Dorset magazine, June 2022 With the arrival of British Summer Time many northern hemisphere astronomy enthusiasts will have already packed up their scopes and put everything on hold until the autumn. After all, it doesn’t get properly dark until very late, and then you’ve only got a …