Reading Astronomical Society held its first Star Camp for members at a dark sky site in Wales.

Around twenty members camped, stayed in a B&B or self-catered at a farm in Powys and we were blessed with clear skies each evening. We saw the darkest skies many of us had seen for several years and fantastic telescopic and binocular views were enjoyed.

We plan to make this a regular event for members in the coming years.

Reading Astronomical Society invited members of the public to Dinton Pastures for two evenings of star gazing. Views of Mars and Saturn were enjoyed by visitors to the park in the gaps between the clouds.

On Sunday afternoon the society set up solar telescopes and interested passers by were shown safe views of our nearest star.

Skywatchers across the UK were treated to one of the best total lunar eclipses in recent years. With perfect weather across large parts of the nation as well!

Occurring at a reasonable time of night, anybody looking skywards would have noticed that the Moon was looking odd. Taking on a reddish tinge due to sunlight refracting through the Earth's atmosphere.

If you missed this one the next will be on 21st Feb 2008 but totality will not begin until 3.00am.

In early February Venus and Mercury had a close encounter in the evening sky without actually passing each other (which would be a classic conjunction). The minimum separation of 4° was on 4th February.

This was one of Mercury's regular good evening apparitions which occur approximately twice every year. Although it never gets very high in the sky for mid-latitude Northern hemisphere observers it can be very bright and easily seen.

It's always rewarding to see the innermost planet especially when it is joined by other planets and/or the Moon.

The next opportunity to see Mercury in the evening sky will be in May.