At Bedford Gallery (Lower Gallery only)
from 5^th December

Admiral Smyth, veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, built a private observatory in the garden of his Bedford home. From here, he observed and described deep-sky objects including star clusters and nebulae. This exhibition, part of the nationwide Local Heroes project celebrating 350 years of the Royal Society, looks at Smyth’s achievements and features images taken by the Hubble space telescope.

Star Gazing events 

All of these events are FREE but some do need to be booked in advance.

Star-Gazing Family Day - Sat 5^th Dec    
11am – 4pm @ Bedford Gallery 

Come along for telescope demonstrations, model rocketry, Planetarium presentations and astronomy talks, plus a chance to make and launch your own rockets!

Admiral Smyth and astonomy in Bedford - Tue 8^th Dec           
7pm @ Bedford Gallery

An evening lecture at Bedford Gallery that promises to tell the fascinating story of astronomy in Bedford, given by Linton Guise, Astronomer at Bedford School. Supported by the Royal Society. 

Open evenings at the Piazzi Smyth Observatory and Wolfson Planetarium - Thur 10^th Dec  & Fri 15^th Jan                                                                       
7pm @ Bedford School 

Call the Art Gallery & Museum on 01234 253323 to book your place on one of these very special visits. A planetarium show will be followed by a rare chance to view distant stars through the observatory telescope – providing it’s a clear night! 

Astronomy – a beginners guide (Bedford Astronomical Society) - Wed 16^th Dec                
1pm @ Bedford Gallery

A lunchtime talk from Bedford Astronomical Society from 1pm – 1.30pm.