AstroThoughts

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AstroThoughts Simon bringing space and astronomy down to Earth with talks, workshops, guided stargazing, and planetarium shows.

Based in the city of Bath, travelling to schools, young peoples' organisations, and community groups across the South West of England.

Thanks to the pupils and staff at St George's C of E Primary School this morning for letting me relocate the breakfast c...
16/10/2026

Thanks to the pupils and staff at St George's C of E Primary School this morning for letting me relocate the breakfast club to the other end of the hall so I could set up the mobile planetarium for them.

There was so much excitement from Reception to Year 6, it was an absolute pleasure to show you the virtual night sky. Everyone was so well behaved... even the teachers! It was great to find out that after the show all about the Moon, Years 4 and 5 were going to be exploring lunar craters in their classroom that afternoon. Having learned about Theia and asteroid impacts in the dome, I'm hoping making your own craters will be so much more impactful (apologies).

I was one of the first into St Mary’s Broughton Gifford CE Primary School this morning to set up the mobile planetarium ...
15/10/2026

I was one of the first into St Mary’s Broughton Gifford CE Primary School this morning to set up the mobile planetarium in the school hall.

Everyone was so welcoming and helpful.

It was a pleasure to meet all the classes, Willow, Maple, and Oak,
and give them a virtual trip up into space. From favourite planets and constellations to stepping outside the International Space Station for a space walk.

Thanks to Jo Donovan and the team.

An amazing welcome to SEEND Church of England Primary School this morning from Reception/Year 1 all the way up to Year 6...
14/10/2026

An amazing welcome to SEEND Church of England Primary School this morning from Reception/Year 1 all the way up to Year 6. Everyone was very excited with the mobile planetarium in their school hall and that they got to go inside and discover about the Moon and the planets as well as being an astronaut.

A huge thank you to the friendly and helpful staff. You must be so proud of the kids and the great questions they asked.

An adventurous evening with Tudor Farmhouse Hotel & Restaurant guests guiding them across the starscape.The Stargazing S...
13/10/2026

An adventurous evening with Tudor Farmhouse Hotel & Restaurant guests guiding them across the starscape.

The Stargazing Safari for 13 guests started with hot drinks and delicious cake before a quick visit to the mobile planetarium as the sky was still bright and a few clouds threatening. This virtual tour was perfectly timed to start the climb to the observing area as the clouds cleared.

We paused en route up the small hill to admire the Big Dipper and the bigger constellation of Ursa Major, the Great Bear. At the top, it was binoculars out and the tour began. We saw satellites, meteors and learned how to tell the difference between them and aircraft. Starhopping to find more constellations and explore their mythological stories. The Milky Way was clearly visible between some cloud and the sky quality reading was 20.30 which is a Bortle score of 4.5. Without the cloud, it would have been an even darker reading.

With the two powerful optical and smart telescopes for guests to use, we got close views of Saturn, double stars, and globular clusters.

It was a great evening and it was so rewarding to bring it to so many keen stargazers.

An enjoyable visit to Hallmark Midford Manor Luxury Care Home last Thursday to talk to residents all about Astrology.Ast...
13/10/2026

An enjoyable visit to Hallmark Midford Manor Luxury Care Home last Thursday to talk to residents all about Astrology.

Astrology isn't a normal thing for me to talk about but having visited Midford Manor's residents on many occasions, they were comfortable to give me this challenge. It was a wild ride from Mesopotamia to Greece and on to the English Civil War. Hopping from the astrologer's of the rich and famous to the possible explanations behind the world's recent renewed love of astrology.

It was all great fun. Looking forward to visiting again soon. It is foretold 😉

Thanks to Old Sodbury WI for inviting me to their gathering last Wednesday evening to talk about the Wanderers, the plan...
13/10/2026

Thanks to Old Sodbury WI for inviting me to their gathering last Wednesday evening to talk about the Wanderers, the planets of the Solar System.

A wonderful audience asking great questions. I really enjoyed the visit and the tea and cake. 🫖🍰

With the talk and tea finished, we popped outside to the telescopes I'd set up to see the skies above Old Sodbury 🔭. The weather night☁ was kind and we got to see bright stars, constellations and all sorts of deep sky objects 🌀 using the smart scope. The star of the evening was the view of Saturn and its moon Titan through the big Meade telescope. For many, it was the first time they'd ever seen the ringed planet. It was a delight to show them.

If you'll have me back, I'd love to visit again 🤓.

Image credit: Old Sodbury WI, June 2025

Free online continuing professional development for primary teachers provided by ESERO UK. It's all about Using Space as...
06/10/2026

Free online continuing professional development for primary teachers provided by ESERO UK.

It's all about Using Space as a context in the classroom and all the amazing resources provided by ESERO UK.

Several repeat slots available. The ones afterschool from 3.30pm until 4.30pm are on:

October 15th,
November 2nd, 9th, 12th, 16th, 19th, 23rd,
December 3rd, 7th, 10th, 14th

For the early in the day from 10.30am - 11.30am there is a session planned on October 30th

Fill out this form https://forms.gle/2xkfsZhfZ8rXgwDSA to express interest and get the online meeting link.

For more information, contact [email protected]

About the 1 hour session:
Explore the Moon, Mars and deep space with your primary pupils through practical activities and the exciting context of space exploration when teaching the primary curriculum.

Learn about current and future space missions, aiming to explore our solar system and beyond. Discover effective ways in which to engage pupils in science and wider STEM activities linked to space exploration.

There are many topics in the primary science curriculum where you can use the theme of space to engage pupils. For example, designing an astronaut's space suit can bring in aspects of the science curriculum to do with properties and the uses of materials. Exercise, keeping healthy and having a balanced diet can be applied to an astronaut's training regime and their time in space.

You will also consider cross curricular links, for example, to numeracy and literacy.

Discover the wealth of FREE resources, events and competitions available to support your teaching and learning of science using space as a context.

Explore the opportunity to enrich your curriculum through a whole school space week.

Find out about how you can work towards a Space Education Quality Mark!

Taking part in this CPD will provide evidence for the Space Education Quality Mark (SEQM). It will also give you resources and subject knowledge that will enable you to plan lessons and enrichment activities to provide further evidence towards the quality mark.

Who is it for?

This course is for primary school teachers. There will be references to the English National Curriculum, but learners will be encouraged to review their local curricula to contextualise the course content.

This course includes:

Current and future space missions and how they can be linked to the curriculum
Practical activities based upon the search for exoplanets
Exploring space using telescopes
Human spaceflight as a context for teaching: exercise and healthy eating; properties and uses of materials; light
Cross curricular opportunities, including geography, literacy, maths
Careers in STEM and in particular the space industry

Outcomes:

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Investigate opportunities to link space exploration and space missions in your lessons to excite and inspire your pupils.
2. Develop lesson plans that involve working scientifically, using space as a context.
3. Explain using models, some of the scientific concepts and ideas involved in space exploration

Design, build and launch a mini satellite.Find out more about getting your school involved in the CanSat Challenge: http...
17/09/2026

Design, build and launch a mini satellite.

Find out more about getting your school involved in the CanSat Challenge: https://www.stem.org.uk/esero/cansat

Groups get to plan and build a satellite and have it launched at a regional event. If successful, groups will be invited to the national event.

You can register your school by Friday 2nd October on the same link.

The competition is open to teams of 3 to 6 students from any school, college or community group located in the UK only. Team members must be over the age of 14 at the time of the competition.

Sometimes when you're asked to bring the science and history alive for people you have to fully immerse yourself to enco...
17/09/2026

Sometimes when you're asked to bring the science and history alive for people you have to fully immerse yourself to encourage others to let their imagination follow.

Here, perhaps I'm Alexander Herschel, the brother of famous siblings Caroline and William Herschel, talking about the discovery of the planet Uranus 245.5 years ago as part of the Jane Austen Festival in Bath.

Address

Bath
BA22PD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9am - 5:30pm
Friday 9am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+447508070283

Website

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