Mini Adventures | The Night Sky

There’s all kinds of magic to be seen in the night sky. Here are a few mini adventures you can have among the stars… without even leaving home

Track the International Space Station

NASA has a handy map and tracker of the ISS to follow its course. It shows where the Space Station is right now, as well as its path 90 minutes previously and where it’ll be in 90 minutes’ time. spotthestation.nasa.gov/tracking_map.cfm

Watch bats

The Bat Conservation Trust is a wonderful organisation with lots of information about bats together with ways that you can support and see these amazing animals year-round. bats.org.uk

See meteors

The Orionid meteor shower is most intense on 21–22 Oct, though you may see it for a week either side of these dates. The meteors are tiny pieces of debris from Halley’s Comet burning up as they enter the Earth’s atmosphere at 41 miles per second.

The ideas above are taken from our feature ‘Overnight Delivery’ in which Dan Richards takes us on a night walk around Galloway. His book Overnight: Journeys, Conversations And Stories After Dark (Canongate Books) will be published in March 2025.

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How to | make an astronomy mirror

Go stargazing without straining your neck with this clever make

This make is fairly easy to put together and will provide you with hours of fun on a clear Autumn night. Head out with a Thermos and your guide to the night sky and see what you can spot.

You will need

A mirror, the bigger the better
Weather-proof sealant (optional)
Robust table or flat, stable surface large enough to hold the mirror
Binoculars
Planks of wood (one per viewer)
Clean pieces of cloth

1 Find a mirror and give it a clean so it’s as clear as possible. Treating the frame with weather-proof sealant can help it last longer.
2 Lay mirror onto your flat surface facing upwards. Secure in place.
3 Prop your plank against the mirror and wedge into place so it doesn’t move. Put your binoculars on top and angle so you can see the mirror.
4 Keep the mirror covered up until it’s dark, then use your binoculars to look at the reflection of the skies. Use a bit of cloth to wipe the mirror if it gets fogged up.
5 Make sure you take the mirror back inside or cover it up once you’re finished staring at the stars.

Find more makes, fun and facts on our Miscellany pages every issue.

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More from our October issue…

More from our miscellanies…

September horoscopes | Virgo

The start of a new season is a natural time of transition, where we pause to reflect and plan for the next phase of the year. Astrologer Donna Taylor looks at the coming season in your star sign and offers her guidance on how to find balance and contentment in the months ahead

Virgo

23 August – 22 September

“If you’re not happy at home, you’re not happy anywhere else,” said actress, Angie Harmon. Your domestic life may have been a theme for some time now, from your home to your family ties. This year is likely to have seen a lessening of difficulties but the real turning point comes in November when a much happier phase begins. Why is this important? Because the more happy and secure you feel in your foundations, the more able you’ll be to go out into the world and shine your light. This autumn is about new beginnings after which you’ll find it easier to make progress.

Turn to page 125 of September's The Simple Things for the other twelve star signs.

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View the sampler here

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Summer horoscopes | Gemini

The start of a new season is a natural time of transition, where we pause to reflect and plan for the next phase of the year. Astrologer Donna Taylor looks at the coming season in your star sign and offers her guidance on how to find balance and contentment in the months ahead.

Gemini

21 May – 21 June

“Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be?” asks Canadian author Danielle LaPorte.

We all need to recharge sometimes and the Sun’s journey through your sign in June is your chance to replenish your spirit by honouring your needs and engaging in pastimes that plug you into the universal battery. August builds on this theme of time out as Mercury goes retrograde, so whether you schedule a regular massage, daily meditation or creative hobby, know that this isn’t so much a time for pushing out into the world, but a time to reflect and heal, physically and emotionally.

Turn to page 126 of the June issue for the other twelve star signs.

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here

More from the June issue:

More starry inspiration:

Starry night stopover

We ran this pic from Galloway House Estate  in our stargazing piece in November issue but forgot to say you can stay there! Off-grid, wood-fired hot tubs, starry skies. There are four cottages on the organically farmed estate, which is near Wigtown, Scotland's book town. And did we mention it's in an International Dark Sky Park, recognised for its spectacular night sky.

Dark sky thinking: stargazing events

Astronomical societies across the country regularly hold talks, events and ‘Star Parties’. Go stargazing with some of these dark sky events.

Wordsworth’s Winter Stars at Allan Bank and Grasmere, 15 November 18.30-20.00, £5

This National Trust event allows you to learn about the universe with local astronomer Stuart Atkinson, as you gaze at the night sky from the grounds of Allan Bank, as Wordsworth once did. In his words, ‘ the loveliest spot that man hath ever found’.

Practical Observing for Beginners at The Royal Observatory Greenwich. 4 November 19.00- 21.00, £78

An expert introduction to practical astronomy, but perhaps one you might not consider investing in until you’ve made sure it’s the hobby for you.

Swansea Astronomical Society Star Party at The National Botanic Garden for Wales, 28 November 18.30-21.00, £3

Given clear skies, the Andromeda Galaxy, the Moon and many other fascinating stellar objects will be visible. Includes a talk on comets.

Pop-up astronomy club is an informal astronomy club set up by East London science collective Super Collider. They have binoculars and a telescope for guests to use, and meet whenever the sky is clear and there’s something to see - follow them on twitter for updates.

Turn to page 68 of November's The Simple Things for more stargazing. Buy or download your copy now.

Go meteor-spotting this month

Head outside and enjoy the show! Find out how to spot meteors with our guide.

The annual Draconids and Orionids meteor showers come to town this month. Here's what to expect...

Draconids

Around ten meteors an hour, but some years feature meteor storms with hundreds an hour.

When: peaking in the early evening on 7 and 8 October - no need to stay up late to spot them!

Orinids

Around 15 meteors an hour, produced by the debris stream from Halley's Comet, with occasional bright fireballs.

When: 20 and 21 October.

Astronomical glossary

Asteroid: rocky, smaller than a planet and very old; often left over from the formation of the Solar System.

Meteor: an asteroid that burns and vaporises as it enters the earth's atmosphere; AKA a shooting star.

Meteorite: any meteor that survives the plunge through the atmosphere and lands on the surface of the Earth.

Comet: a relatively small odd that orbits the Sun, displaying a fuzzy outline and sometimes a tail.

The Simple Things guide to meteor-spotting is part of October's Miscellany: a curious combination of the practical and the playful. Turn to page 123 of The Simple Things for more. Buy or download your copy now.

And look out for November's The Simple Things - stargazing and a trip to the moon and stars!

Image: The radiant meteor storm of 9 October 1933, Larousse Encyclopedia of Astronomy, found on Pinterest.