Space. The final frontier. Last night Lyn and I got a glimpse of that frontier. It was not all that difficult, in fact: we just had to pop around the corner to Charlton House. There, the BBC were holding an event called ‘Stargazing Live‘, which you might have seen on TV. It is all about astronomy, and has been on the box the last two nights, with the final programme tonight. While there was no filming up at the House, they ad set up lots of astronomy based activities.

Truth be told, I hadn’t known what to expect; I’d only known about it after driving past the house one day and seeing it advertised. I didn’t know whether it would be aimed at kids, or at adults. Of course, the answer was that it was aimed at booth, with activities ranging from a table with astronomy-themed Lego to going into full lectures. The coolest part for me, however, was getting a chance to see through a telescope – I could see Jupiter, with it’s rings and satellites, in all it’s majesty, clear as day. It was absolutely beautiful. I had thought the dot, which Jupiter had turned out to be, was simply another bright star; I’ll never look at the night’s sky the same way.

We didn’t sty all that long – Charlton house is not an enormous place, and it was getting crowded – but I found what we saw thrilling. It was a great evening, an the clouds had kept away. I have always looked up at the night’s sky with wonder and awe: rather than allay such feelings, I think last night’s event will have deepened them.