National Astronomy Week - Programme of NAW Events

It's a first!  Due to Covid-19 a "virtual" programme of informative and interesting talks and streamed events will run during the week, organised by the NAW team. Please note that other organisations are also hosting events; use Find an event or the event calendar to see these.

Each day has a theme.  The morning sessions (weekdays only, 11-12 noon) are suitable for younger students (7 - 14) and are aimed at schools and home schoolers, except when a different age range is specified.  In the evening there are talks and observation sessions running from 6 to 8 pm.   Speakers will be specialists in their fields from all corners of the UK astronomy community and wider.   The evening session will contain talks (and a panel discussion on Friday) following which there will be streamed observations. Feeds will be shown from all parts of the UK and even beyond. We hope this will inspire those with access to suitable equipment to try their own observations - taking care to remain safe.

To book: Click the Read more and register link for the event.    Recordings of events that have run are available on YouTube. Please click See Recording in the table below.

The table below shows all the events for the week in a form where each day is shown in its own column. You can print the entire schedule onto a single sheet (landscape). You may need to adjust the scaling to "fit to page" or similar.

DateSaturday 14th NovemberSunday 15th NovemberMonday 16th NovemberTuesday 17th NovemberWednesday 18th NovemberThursday 19th NovemberFriday 20th NovemberSaturday 21st NovemberSunday 22nd November
THEMEMARS THE PLANETMARS ROCKS!LIFE ON MARSMARS on EARTHTALES OF MARSROBOTS ON MARSMARTIAN Careers Day!MARS SCI-FIHUMANS ON MARS
IncludesMars and the wider solar systemRocks and geology, Past and present, Volcanoes, Craters, Marsquakes and findings from missions to MarsAstrobiologists discuss whether there was an ancient ocean on Mars, if water exists today and what this means for Life on MarsWhat's the difference between Mars and Earth, and what the study of space brings to understanding our planet?Stories of Mars through art, music and literatureRovers, Orbiters, Landers , what have we sent to Mars... and why!?A day to inspire any budding scientist, researcher or space engineer of the futureThe facts and the fun of science fiction.What is the reality of humans living and working on Mars?
 Scheduled activities and speakers
Morning (11-12)No session at weekend No session at weekend Have you ever wondered if there is life on Mars? Join the Astrobiology group at the Open University and The Observatory Science Centre to learn about the conditions for life on Mars, get hands-on with some ideas for experiments and chat to real astrobiologists to answer all your questions about Alien life!
Read more and register
Host(s): Jo Fox (SpaceFund) and Alastair Bruce (Dynamic Earth)
Complete: See recording
What’s the difference when you compare our planet to Mars? What do different types of telescope tell us about one of our closest neighbours and what does the study of space bring to the understanding of our planet. Join SpaceFund and the I-LOFAR Observatory for an exciting and interactive session and a chance to ask your questions to UK space and astronomy experts.
Read more and register
Host(s): Lucinda Offer (RAS) & Jackie Bell (Imperial College)
Complete: See recording
Suitable for ages 3-7 years, Early Years and children with Special Educational Needs, it's time to get moving with dance and Makaton to explore Mars and Space with the Lightyear Foundation & Flamingo Chicks. Then settle in for some stories to help you find Mars and other constellations and stories in the night sky this winter with Explorer Dome.
Read more and register
Host(s): Sheila Kanani (RAS), Shaaron Leverment (Science Centres)
Complete: See recording
Have you got what it takes to search for life on Mars? Join us to build a Mars rover live out of the contents of your recycling bin. Put our extra-terrestrial exploration experts from the Glasgow Science Centre, the University of Glasgow and the Natural History Museum to the test answering your questions on Martian exploration. Find out how your school can do your own real mission-based science and rover design in the classroom with the Roving with Rosalind team!
Read more and register
Host(s): Richard Hollingham (Boffin media) & Alastair Bruce (Dynamic Earth)
Complete: See recording
The National Space Academy invites you to a career’s hour! Have you ever heard of an astrobiologist? Could you imagine designing space suits for Mars, or becoming and planetary scientist? Join us for an hour to find out about space scientists, researchers, engineers and others with careers in space, and how you could get involved in the future!
Read more and register
Host(s): Shaaron Leverment (Science Centres) & Jackie Bell (Imperial College)
Complete: See recording
No session at weekend No session at weekend
Evening (6-8pm)Join Professor Chris Lintott (Oxford University, Sky at Night), Professor Jane Greaves (Cardiff University) and John Bridges (Space Research Centre) as we open National Astronomy Week with an introduction to Mars as a planet of the solar system, and delve into the recent discoveries on Venus to explore what this could mean for life on our closest planetary neighbours.
Read more and register
Host(s): Jo Fox (SpaceFund), Lucinda Offer (RAS) & Robin Scagell (SPA)
Complete: See recording
Anna Horleston (Bristol University) and Susanne Schwenzer (Open University) discuss the geology of Mars. Why is Mars red? Find out what their research and current missions to Mars (Mars Science Laboratory mission and Insight) tell us about the rocks, craters, volcanoes, Marsquakes a the past and present of Mars.
Read more and register
Host(s): Lucinda Offer (RAS) & Nigel Henbest (Astronomy Author)
Complete: See recording
Martin Griffiths (Brecon Beacons Observatory), Charles Cockell (University of Edinburgh) and Lucinda Offer (Mars Society) discuss Life on Mars - from ancient oceans, to water on Mars today and the possibility of alien life.
Read more and register
Host(s): Lucinda Offer (RAS) & Sandra Voss (Observatory Science Centre)
Complete: See recording
What does the study of Space bring to our own understanding of Earth? Join an expert panel in a session to discuss the differences between the two neighbours and explore with climate scientists what space exploration and satellite technology do to help us understand and protect our own home world. Panel includes Nick Attree (University of Stirling) Rachel Tilling (NASA Cryospheric Sciences) and and Mark Fox-Powell (Open University).
Read more and register
Host(s): Alastair Bruce (Dynamic Earth) & Shaaron Leverment (Science Centres)
Complete: See recording
Join Luke Jerram (lukejerram.com), Josh Yates (professional astronomical storyteller) and Josh Nall (museum of science historian) for an evening devoted to the 'Tales of Mars' - from Mars through the eyes of astronomical artworks, music and graphics, to the Roman and Greek god of War, and the tales scientists used to tell of Martians building canals on Mars!
Read more and register
Host(s): Steve Gray (Cosmos Planetarium), Robert Massey (RAS), Lucinda Offer (RAS)
Complete: See recording
Rovers, Orbiters & Landers - we've sent many robots to Mars! Tonight we are delighted to be joined by Professor Sanjeev Gupta (Imperial College London) and John Chinner (Airbus Space) to talk about the research and engineering of current and future rover missions to Mars. Find out how and why we send these robots, how we operate the rovers on Mars, and what we’re hoping to find!
Read more and register
Host(s): Emily Drabek-Maunder (Royal Observatory Greenwich) & Nigel Henbest (Astronomy Author)
Complete: See recording
Would you like to have a career in space or astronomy? Are you curious to discuss some of the biggest questions about the Earth, stars, space and beyond? Where did it all come from? How will it end? Is there life out there? Join Steve Wilkins (University of Sussex) as he hosts "Ask an Astronomer" with a leading panel of UK space researchers and astronomers including Jo Barstow, Jane Greaves, Naomi Rowe-Gurney, Clara Sousa-Silva and Elizabeth Stanway
Read more and register
Host(s): Lucinda Offer (RAS) & Steve Wilkins (University of Sussex)
Complete: See recording
Mars has been a huge inspiration for Science Fiction for centuries. This evening join Sue Nelson (Space Journalist & Author), Professor Robert Walsh (the International Astronomical Union & University of Central Lancashire) and Dr Elizabeth Stanway (University of Warwick) to explore the facts behind science fiction, from how humans could live on Mars, through to the search for alien life.
Read more and register
Host(s): Shaaron Leverment (Science Centres) and Lucinda Offer (RAS)
Complete: See recording
Is living and working on Mars realistic? Could we go there in our lifetime? Join Lucinda Offer & Sarah Baatout to discuss and debate living and working on Mars and meet some of the people who are trying to make this a reality.
Read more and register
Host(s): Sandra Voss (Observatory Science Centre), Robin Scagell (SPA)
Complete: See recording
ObservationsTalks are followed by streamed observations by Astronomy Societies and others across the UK and beyond. More details are on the remote observations page.