We pick the best live and virtual astronomy events and resources this month
PICK OF THE MONTH
Annual Royal Observatory Christmas Lecture
Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London, 9 December, 7pm
This year’s Christmas lecture at the Royal Observatory Greenwich comes from Professor Sanjeev Gupta of Imperial College, London, who will be speaking about Mars and the rover missions currently exploring it. The professor is well-placed to discuss this subject, being a planetary scientist researching environmental change on both the Red Planet and our own blue and green one, and also a co-investigator on the camera teams for the ExoMars, Curiosity and Perseverance Mars rovers. Booking essential. Tickets £10 for adults, £5 for children and £9 for students. www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on
A History of Women in Astronomy
University of Wolverhampton, 5 December, 7:30pm
Join Mary McIntyre FRAS and the Wolverhampton Astronomical Society for a talk celebrating the myriad contributions made by women to the science of astronomy. www.wolvas.org.uk/event
The Goodwill Moon Rock
National Space Centre, Leicester, 7 December, 6:15pm and 8:15pm
A talk by Dermot Gethings, who as a student ambassador in 1972 was sent to cover the launch of Apollo 17 and became the custodian of the Apollo 17 Goodwill Moon Rock. Tickets £8. spacecentre.co.uk/whats-on
Stargazing with Astro Dog
Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire, 8–23 December, 6:30pm
A laser-guided tour of the night sky in the North York Moors Dark Sky Reserve, with binoculars and telescopes available for viewing star clusters and nebulae. £20. astro-dog.co.uk/collections/stargazing-events
Apollo 17’s 50th anniversary
World Museum, Liverpool, 10 December
An exhibition by Liverpool Astronomical Society celebrating the 50th anniversary of humanity’s last trip to the Moon, aboard Apollo 17. Expect talks, displays and even solar observing. Free to enter. liverpoolas.org/events
Comets and Meteoroids
Walthamstow Wetlands, London, 13 December, 6:30pm
A talk from Stow Stargazers on the differences between meteors, comets and asteroids, followed by a tour through the wetlands and a look for Geminid meteors, weather permitting. £20 entry. www.wildlondon.org.uk/events
Christmas Astronomy Talk
Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, 19 December, 7pm
This family-friendly talk will cover the winter sky, 2022’s space news and some Christmas surprises along the way. Tickets £7.50, £5 concessions. visit.roe.ac.uk
Christmas Dark Skies Walk
Keswick, Cumbria, 23 December, 5:30pm
A walk of three to four miles around Whinlatter Forest Park with an astronomer guide to discover the night sky above the Lake District. Santa hats welcome. Tickets £10 adult and £15 for one adult with two kids under 12. www.keswick.org/whats-on