we got that one wrong!

It just goes to show you that these things are not always easy to predict accurately. At the time of writing, I don't think anybody on Earth saw the fireball when the satellite finally came down at about 0500 GMT on Saturday!

UARS falling tonight

If you get the chance, go and have a look to the south east just before 9pm tonight. The Nasa satellite UARS is reentering the Earth's atmosphere, and with any luck we should get a view as it plummets to Earth!

Get ready for the Draconids!

Put this in your diary --- Saturday the 8th October. The Draconid meteor shower will take place over Western Europe just after it gets dark here in the UK. A Canadian astronomer thinks he has worked out that it will be a particularly good display, for about an hour. This is not a meteor shower that delivers perfect displays every year, as the comet that makes it happen has yet to unclump and spread its debris all around its orbit. However, Paul Wiegert thinks he has unpicked the pattern of good years and bad years by looking at historical records, and applying his understanding of solar system dynamics.

It has got to be worth a look, and I'll be opening the observatory at 6.00pm BST and closing again at 8.00pm. Places are limited, so the first ten families - Bootham or ISSP to apply will get a place for an adult and a young person! Mail me here to get your place...