Enter our 2026 Photo Competition
UK Astronomy exists to encourage others to look up...
...Because there are a billion worlds in your back garden
UK Astronomy is a registered charity whose ethos is to educate, inspire and excite others by sharing our knowledge and passion for space. We do this by offering astronomy outreach and public engagement for anyone who thinks space is awesome and wants to find out how vast and magnificent it all is.
MKEA Finalist
UKA founder recognised as Milton Keynes Education Awards Finalist
Dr Ross Hockham BCAe is committed to inspiring and educating young people in STEM and does this as a volunteer, running UK Astronomy alongside his full-time job as a firefighter. His passion for astronomy science engagement and STEM is driven by a genuine belief that young people should have access to inspiring, high-quality science engagement.
What we do
UK Astronomy provide educational workshops that excite and inspire others to learn about space.
We work with schools, community groups like scouts, guides, rotary groups and WI, other charities, and businesses. We can tailor a workshop session to suit your needs.
Mobile Planetarium
Enter our mobile planetarium and as the darkness surrounds you join UK Astronomy in an immersive 360-degree learning experience that takes you on a journey through the night sky!
Mobile Observatory
Bringing the skies to you. With the Space Crafter, we are able to host stargazing evenings in the local area and once lockdown guidance relaxes further, educational events with the National Trust, Parks Trust, local councils, and schools. It will allow the charity to travel far and wide with specialist stargazing equipment.
UK Astronomy Events
We hold various events throughout the year - some public for all to attend, and some private.
Check out our up coming events to see if there is anything you might like to attend.
UK Partial Solar Eclipse
On Wednesday 12th August 2026 the UK will see a partial solar eclipse. From the UK this is not a total eclipse, but the Moon will cover a large part of the Sun during the early evening.
Timings vary depending on where you are. According to sources, the partial eclipse begins in the UK from around 5:59pm and ends by around 8:10pm.
UK Partial Lunar Eclipse
On Friday 28th August 2026 the UK will see a partial lunar eclipse. Depending on where you are in the UK, the Earth will cover over 93% of the Moon. With the start of Penumbral at 2:23am and ending at 7:00am, it will be an all nighter!
For more information, visit timeanddate.com
What's on?
A guide to all of the events that UK Astronomy are hosting or attending.
Whether you prefer a night of casual stargazing or an entertaining talk from UK Astronomy founder, Dr Ross Hockham BCAe, there are a range of events to suit your needs.
Guides
Find out what's up in the night sky. With helpful guides and other resources, and now with our Monthly Sky Guide, you'll find lots to help you with your astronomy.
Astronaut Training
Train like an Astronaut with NASA Solar System Ambassador, Janelle Harrier Wilson, and "Rocket" Ross. The activities demonstrated by Ross utilise the same body parts and systems that astronauts use in training for their missions.
Meet the Team
Meet the founders and dedicated team of volunteers that make up our fantastic organisation.
Discover how they got started in astronomy, their passion for the stars and their achievements.
How you can support us
As with all charities, we are always in need of help and support. There are many ways that you can help us to ensure we can continue to offer events and to secure the future of our outreach program.
A huge thank you to all of our supporters
We couldn't do what we do without the continued help and support of all of our sponsors and supporters.
Recommendation
A massive thank you from all of us at Rushden Sea Cadets! Your enlightening visit left us all in awe. The way you made the wonders
of the universe so accessible and engaging, particularly through the use of the amazing planetarium, was truly exceptional.
Your obvious passion for astronomy was infectious and has undoubtedly sparked curiosity among our cadets. We couldn't have asked for a better guide to navigate the cosmos with.
We're all now looking up at the sky with a new sense of wonder and appreciation. Thank you for the stellar experience!
Your obvious passion for astronomy was infectious and has undoubtedly sparked curiosity among our cadets. We couldn't have asked for a better guide to navigate the cosmos with.
We're all now looking up at the sky with a new sense of wonder and appreciation. Thank you for the stellar experience!
Everyone
Rushden Sea Cadets
Rushden Sea Cadets
Collaboration
Our first involvement with UK Astronomy was at a Free Comic Book Day event in 2017. After interviewing Ross for
TGP NOMINAL, we realised that UK Astronomy and TGP NOMINAL were trying to achieve similar goals. On the back of this, Ross agreed
to conduct a one off Sky Guide for us and his personality was the perfect fit for the podcast. Four years on, Ross is now our Resident Astronomer.
TGP NOMINAL are proud to collaborate with UK Astronomy and to call Ross & Frankie friends.
Mark Taylor
TGP NOMINAL
TGP NOMINAL
Engagement
Working with UK Astronomy has allowed us to help engage more people with our parks from a totally different perspective.
Our Stars in the Park events are really popular as the talks are always engaging, captivating and fascinating for everyone. The team at UK Astronomy
are so great to work with, offering lots of exciting new ideas and are really flexible. We look forward to continue to work with them and to inspire
people to get outside and explore the skies!
Katie Dean
Events & Community Engagement Officer
The Parks Trust
Events & Community Engagement Officer
The Parks Trust
Professionalism
We have been working with Ross & Frankie since the very early stages of the charity. It has been a joy to see them grow
and evolve both the charity and variety of ways they reach and inspire budding astronomers. [...] It’s always a joy to work with Ross & Frankie, their
passion and enthusiasm infiltrates every aspect of our partnership work, which results in events that are professionally organised, run to an
exceptionally high standard and most importantly brings the excitement of the universe directly to our community, with engaging, knowledgeable,
approachable volunteers and activities.
Ruth Mayhew
Senior Events Officer
Aylesbury Town Council
Senior Events Officer
Aylesbury Town Council
Flexibility
The UK Astronomy event Ross and team ran at my school was amazing, and one of the easiest after school events I've
had the pleasure of organising as a teacher. Ross was flexible and wanted to ensure there would be the right level of information for all ages
from 2 to 70+ as pupils were invited to come with family members. [...] It was one of those events that reminds you why you became a teacher - a hall
buzzing full of families inspired and learning together. What more can any teacher ask for?
Catherine
School Teacher
School Teacher
Support
What a fantastic organisation and deserving charity. It has been an absolute pleasure to assist Ross and Frankie at
UK Astronomy by providing our services and supporting the charity by developing a new website.
We look forward to providing ongoing support as UK Astronomy's website continues to grow and evolve.
We look forward to providing ongoing support as UK Astronomy's website continues to grow and evolve.
Paul Smith
Visual Interactive
Visual Interactive
Appreciation
My autistic son has had an obsession with all things space related since the age of 2 years old. UK Astronomy is a phenomenal
charity whose facebook group community has provided him with so much support. As a family, we are proud to support such a fantastic cause in inspiring others to
go deeper with their interest in the skies.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Lyndsay Smith
Parent
Parent
Home
About Us
Meet the Team
What We Do
UKA in the News
Mobile Observatory
Mobile Planetarium
What's On
Events
Guides
UK Partial Eclipse
Kids Astronomy
Photo Competition
Astronaut Training
What People Say
Support Us
Contact Us
Achievement of the quality mark by UK Astronomy demonstrates to funders and other stakeholders their commitment to excellence.
Ian McLintock,
Founder,
Charity Excellence.
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UK Astronomy is a registered charity in England and Wales (1190172)
and a company Limited by Guarantee (10276672)
Registered Office: 3 Pleshey Close, Milton Keynes, MK5 6EP
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