About the Week

The National Astronomy Week Committee has been organising National Astronomy Week (NAW) on behalf of the wider UK scientific, educational and astronomical community since 1981. It’s not an annual event, but is organised when there is a significant astronomical event that will get everyone talking.  Previous NAWs have marked the return of Halley’s Comet, the close approach of Mars in 2003, the 400th anniversary of the invention of the telescope, Target Jupiter. and, during Covid lockdown, Mars Encounter.

You can find out more by visiting the National Astronomy Week Wikipedia page

This year’s event is kindly sponsored by:
★ Royal Astronomical Society
★ British Astronomical Association
★ Federation of Astronomical Societies
★ Society for Popular Astronomy

National Astronomy Week could not exist without the enthusiastic support of dozens of participating science centres, astronomy societies and many other organisations and individuals across the UK.

The NAW Committee

The following people and/or their organisations are involved in organising the week, contribute time, and/or make a financial contribution. Click on any of the links to visit the appropriate website.

Robin Scagell – Committee Chair and Society for Popular Astronomy
Ann Mills – Chichester Planetarium
Bob Rubin – Treasurer
Brendan Blake – IT specialist
Callum Potter – British Astronomical Association
Clare Lauwerys – Federation of Astronomical Societies
Sandra Voss – The Observatory Science Centre
Shaaron Leverment – The Association of Science and Discovery Centres
Sheila Kanani – Space educator, author and EDI consultant
Teresa Grafton – Former NAW chair and ex-London Planetarium

Jenny Shipway is the National Astronomy Week Coordinator