You do not need your own telescope, a degree in astrophysics or even a clear sky to spend a Tuesday evening looking up at Wynyard this autumn.
Wynyard Planetarium and the Jack Youdale Observatory are bringing back their free informal stargazing evenings from September 2026 through to April 2027. The drop-in sessions run every Tuesday from 7.30pm to 9pm, with no advance booking required.
When the weather behaves, visitors can use the observatory telescopes to look at the night sky with volunteers on hand to help identify what is visible. People can also bring their own telescope if they want help setting it up or getting more from it.
Cloud does not automatically cancel the evening. The planetarium remains open as a place to meet the team, look around the facilities and ask questions about astronomy. The organisers describe the sessions as suitable for complete beginners as well as more experienced stargazers.
The season begins in September, with Go Stargazing currently listing Tuesday sessions from 8 September onwards. Wynyard Planetarium is at Thorpe Thewles, near Stockton-on-Tees.
Full details and future dates are available from Go Stargazing's TASC listings and the Wynyard Planetarium website.