2025 Winter Comet & Curry with Notebook and Pen

15th November 2025

Time: 6.30 pm to 11.30 pm

Maximum 80 places: Adults only.

Gift Package includes:

• Gift Ticket
• Lenticular notebook: lined pages, wire bound, 11 cms x  14.5 cms, designs vary
• Exclusive Science Centre pen: outer colours vary
• Exclusive Science Centre card with envelope: blank for your own message

PLEASE NOTE: Gates open at 6.30 pm and there will be a talk at 8.15 pm by a guest speaker. All the exhibits will be available for you to explore when you arrive. While you don't need to arrive at  6.30 pm the gates will be closed at 8 pm so please arrive before then.

There is a meat or vegetarian curry but there is no alternative menu to the curry.

The curry will be served with rice, naan bread and poppadoms.  

If you are attending with others who have booked separately and you would like to be seated together and put in the same group, please let us know in advance because the groups are arranged prior to the event.

The Leonid meteor shower occurs as Earth passes through the deris trail left behind by comet Tempel-Tuttle. These meteors are very fast (travelling at about 44 miles per second) and often leave persistent trains behind them. The peak activity is the evening of the 17th and pre-dawn hours of the 18th November when you may see about 10 meteors per hour. While we are just before the peak you should be able to still see a good few meteors. The natural limits of the shower are 6th - 30th November. The phase of the Moon is a waning crescent which means there will be no Moon during the event, making it easier to spot the meteors.

The Taurids shower marks the time when the Earth passes through the dust trail of comet Encke. The debris left behind by comet Enke is the largest in the inner solar system and it takes several weeks for the Earth to pass through this trail giving an extended period of activity; 20th October - 10th December. The peak activity for the Taurids is on the 12th November but given the protracted period of activity you may see meteors from comet Enke too. 

While we don't use the telescopes to spot meteors, if the weather does permit you will get a chance to look at some other interesting celestial objects through the large telescopes.

The evening aims to be both informal and informative with a talk presented by a guest speaker. Following the talk, if the weather is nice and clear you will have the opportunity to try and spot some fast moving meteors with the unaided eye and look through the telescopes at other interesting celestial objects. If the weather is unsuitable for viewing, the main talk will go ahead regardless and a comprehensive exclusive tour of the telescopes will replace viewing. During this part of the evening you will move around The Centre in smaller groups, visiting the domes and lawns where you will have the opportunity to speak to the astronomers.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Gates will open at 6.30 pm
• We recommend that you bring a torch (preferably red light if you have one) and please wear warm clothing and sensible, warm footwear;
• No refund can be issued for cancellations within 7 days of the event. If you wish to cancel and it is prior to 7 days before the event, there will be a £5 administration charge which will be taken off the refund. For any event transfer request, there will be a £5 administration charge;
• Parking is on the parking field at the front of The Centre;
• If using Sat Nav, please use ‘Wartling Road’ and NOT our postcode;
• If you are a blue badge holder, there are 5 parking bays available at the back of the science centre, adjacent to our ramped entrance. Please be aware that there are high walkways and domes are accessed by steep narrow stairs.

We do NOT cancel this event if the weather is unsuitable for viewing.