I went out star gazing the other night. Apparently this is the time of year that is the busiest for meteor showers so I put on a few jumpers and coats, laid out a sleeping bag, chased off the cats and lay down to look at the stars...

Where I live the light pollution is pretty bad generally, but it brought back memories of one of my best ever holidays. I used to do these conservation holidays - you pay a small amount to go and live in a hostel with 12 strangers and do something for the environment! This particular holiday was at Malham Tarn building a boardwalk over some wetlands. Malham is a gorgeous part of England too. Anyway, one night we all went out to stargaze, drink a few cans and chat in the dark. It was amazing - we saw probably 50 shooting stars, plus everyone spilled all their deep dark secrets to this bunch of strangers they would never see again after the week was over! However, it was the stargazing that I remember the most.

There is just something amazing to look up at these dots of light, and realise that most are millions and billions of light years away. Of course the shooting stars aren't! And I even learnt how to spot a satellite. I think there are supposed to be a few thousand satellites of various types orbiting the earth these days too.

Anyway, my hour or so in my back garden wasn't quite as successful, but I did see one really good shooting star and a few little ones (that MIGHT have just been my eyes, but I'm claiming them!) and also spotted two satellites. It's the first time I have seen either since that night at Malham Tarn. I just love space stuff... Time to watch Jodie Foster in Contact again I think.