This year's stargazing event, at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory will take place online. We're sorry we won't be able to welcome to you the lab in person, but we are planning an exciting evening filled with activities, talks and tours that you'll be able to join via Zoom from the comfort of your own home!

Stargazing 2021 will take place on Friday 22 January, from 17:30 - 20:30. We'll be running four different strands of activity:

Introductions to our space research (age 9+): In this strand we'll have virtual tours of our facilities, and you'll have the chance to find out about the space research that we're doing around the country - from studying meteorites in our particle accelerators, to hunting for the elusive dark matter from our lab in a mine. This will include:

• When the chips are down: space research at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source (age 14+)
• ​From the atmosphere upwards: an introduction to Chilbolton Observatory
• ​Exploring space beneath the surface: space research at the Boulby Underground Laboratory
• ​Preparing for launch: an introduction to​ ​RAL Space​ environmental testing
• An introduction to space science at Diamond Light Source

Virtual planetarium shows and ask-an-astronomer (age 7+): We'll be giving you a virtual tour of the night sky, and opportunities to ask questions to our experts and friends from Newbury Astronomy Society on anything from meteor showers to how to set up a telescope in your back garden! Weather permitting, we may even be able to stream some live views through our telescopes of the night sky.

Space talks (age 10+): Our experts will give a series of talks about blue moons, creating miniature stars, and how we're using space technology to minimise food waste. Talks will include:

• Testing for space
• How to create a miniature supernova using one of the world’s most powerful lasers
• ​Stargazing with binoculars
• Using space technology to reduce food waste in India
• Once in a Blue Moon
• ​Secure communication in space

Family make-along activities (age 5+): In these sessions we'll be showing you how to make Saturn mobiles, rockets, model International Space Stations, comets and more. Activities will include:

• Comet making
• Make your own rocket
• Make your own International Space Station
• Make a Saturn mobile
• Cloud making

Talks, tours and activities will run in half-hour sessions in each strand, and you can choose to join live or watch the recording. Programme details of timings etc. are available on our website, and we'll also email these through before the event. When registering for your ticket, please indicate which session(s) you would like to attend (or receive recordings).

If you aren't going to be able to attend live, but would like to send a question in advance for us to answer during the evening, please email your queryto visitral@stfc.ac.uk.

We look forward to you joining us virtually at the event!