The Starsmith

01/07/2026

Over at my Observatory - did you see it?

Hopefully going to be live streaming some of the images in the coming weeks as the nights draw in!

Witchmark Observatory

This week’s Strawberry Moon

If you looked towards the sky over the last couple of evenings, you may have noticed the full Moon sitting low and golden near the horizon.

This was the Strawberry Moon — the traditional name given to June’s full Moon.

Despite the name, it does not mean the Moon turns pink or red. The name is linked to the time of year when strawberries ripen, although when the Moon rises low in the summer sky it can often take on a beautiful warm glow as its light passes through more of Earth’s atmosphere.

For me, full Moons are always a lovely reminder that astronomy does not have to be complicated.

You do not need a telescope, specialist equipment, or a perfectly dark sky to enjoy the Moon. Sometimes it is enough just to step outside, look up, and notice how something so familiar can still feel extraordinary.

At Witchmark Observatory, the summer months are always a quieter time for observing evenings because the nights arrive so late. But moments like this are a reminder that the sky is still putting on a show — even before the darker evenings return.

Did you manage to see the Strawberry Moon?

Feel free to share a photo in the comments, or let me know where you spotted it from.

25/06/2026

I’m often asked which object I most enjoy turning my telescope towards.

For me, the answer is easy: Orions Nebula

The image show on this post shows an immense cloud of gas and dust situated in Orion’s Sword, just below the three familiar stars of Orion’s Belt. Around 1,400 to 1,500 light-years from Earth, it is a vast stellar nursery where new stars are being born.

That distance gives it an extraordinary connection to our own history. The light reaching us from the nebula today began its journey at around the time the Vikings first landed at Lindisfarne.

When you look at M42 through a telescope, you are not simply looking across space — you are looking back through centuries of time.

One of the things I enjoy most about presenting is hearing the questions people have about the universe.

Some are enormous:

How big is the universe?
Is there life anywhere else?
What would happen if you fell into a black hole?

Others begin with something we can see from our own gardens:

Why does the Moon change shape?
Why do stars twinkle?
Why can we sometimes see the Moon during the day?

Astronomy begins with curiosity, and when it comes to the universe, there really is no such thing as a silly question.

So, while I prepare for new Starsmith events beginning in September, I’d love to hear from you:

What is the one thing about space or the night sky that you have always wanted to know?

Leave your question in the comments. I may answer some of them in future posts — and perhaps even include them in an upcoming show.

20/06/2026

Tomorrow is the Summer Solstice.

It is the longest day of the year, it's the moment when the northern half of Earth is tilted most towards the Sun, giving us our longest stretch of daylight and our shortest night.

For me, it is a brilliant reminder that astronomy is not only about what happens after dark.

The movement of the Sun, the changing seasons, the length of our days, and the slow rhythm of the year are all part of the same story written across the sky.

Of course, for stargazing, summer can be a little frustrating. The evenings stay bright, the nights are short, and we have to wait much later before the stars properly appear - staying up til 2am isn't always the best idea to grab a glimpse of the night sky proper.

But the solstice is also the turning point.

After tomorrow, the nights gradually begin to lengthen again. Bit by bit, the darkness returns — and with it, the stars, planets, constellations, and all the wonders waiting above us.

So tomorrow, take a moment to notice the light.

Stand outside, look up, and remember that we are all travelling around the Sun on a tilted, spinning world — and that is pretty wonderful.

The Starsmith — bringing the universe to life.

19/06/2026

🌟 Did you know?

The Starsmith works with primary schools across Lancashire to deliver interactive astronomy shows for Years 5 & 6?

The sessions are designed to support curriculum-led science learning while helping pupils engage with STEM in a fun, memorable and practical way.

Through demonstrations, experiments, storytelling and audience participation, pupils can explore topics such as:

🚀 Earth and space
🔭 Light and telescopes
🌍 Gravity and motion
🪐 The Solar System
✨ Stars, galaxies and the scale of the universe

The aim is simple: to make science exciting, accessible and inspiring — and to help children see that STEM is full of curiosity, creativity and wonder.

I hold a current Enhanced DBS check and can provide further details for schools, teachers and STEM leads interested in booking a session.

📍 Available for primary schools across Lancashire
🌟 Designed for Years 5 and 6
🔬 Supporting science and STEM learning

Find out more or get in touch at:

www.thestarsmith.com

or email - [email protected]

18/06/2026

🚀 The Starsmith has launched — and our first new show is ready for lift-off!

After months of planning, creating and rebuilding, the brand-new Starsmith website is now live:

www.thestarsmith.com

The Starsmith brings astronomy to life through interactive shows filled with science, storytelling, demonstrations and audience participation.

To celebrate the launch, our brand-new show will be coming to Barley Village Hall in Barley, Lancashire, on 10 September.

This is not a traditional lecture. It is an interactive journey through space, designed to entertain, surprise and inspire curious minds of all ages.

🌌 Brand-new astronomy show
📍 Barley Village Hall, Barley, Lancashire
📅 10 September
🎟 Tickets and full details available through the new website

Explore the new site, discover the show and join us for an evening that brings the universe to life.

18/06/2026

🚀 The Starsmith has launched — and our first new interactive astronomy show is ready for lift-off!

After months of planning, creating and rebuilding, the brand-new Starsmith website is now live:

www.thestarsmith.com

The Starsmith brings astronomy to life through interactive shows filled with science, storytelling, demonstrations and audience participation.

To celebrate the launch, our brand-new show will be coming to Barley Village Hall in Barley, Lancashire, on 10 September.

This is not a traditional lecture. It is an interactive journey through space, designed to entertain, surprise and inspire curious minds of all ages.

🌌 Brand-new astronomy show
📍 Barley Village Hall, Barley, Lancashire
📅 10 September
🎟 Tickets and full details available through the new website

Explore the new site, discover the show and join us for an evening that brings the universe to life.

12/06/2026

🚀 **THE STARSMITH IS BACK — WITH A BRAND-NEW SHOW!** 🌙✨

Something exciting has been taking shape behind the scenes…

After previously bringing the wonders of the night sky to audiences at places including Brockholes

The Starsmith is officially relaunching — with a completely new interactive astronomy show.

This is not simply a talk about space.

It is a journey through the night sky, filled with fascinating demonstrations, interactive experiments, surprising discoveries and some of the biggest questions we can ask:

🌍 Where are we in the universe?
🌙 Why does the Moon appear to change shape?
☀️ What makes the planets move?
⭐ What exactly are the stars we see at night?
🚀 And just how enormous is space?

The new Starsmith show has been created to make astronomy exciting, understandable and memorable — whether it is being presented to a primary school, a community audience, a nature reserve or a business looking for something genuinely different.

The Starsmith brings the universe to you.

And for those who want to go beyond the show and look through a telescope for themselves, our astronomy journey continues at Witchmark Observatory where future events will combine talks with real stargazing beneath the night sky.

The show is nearly ready.

The universe is waiting.

And The Starsmith is back.

Follow this page for the official launch, new show details and booking information.

🔭 Stargazing and observatory events: Witchmark Observatory
🌐 [www.witchmarkobservatory.com](http://www.witchmarkobservatory.com)