Report by Simon Hurst & Bobby Manoo
This was our second Exclusive Access event at the ROG, and unfortunately, the sky gods didn’t cooperate - the weather was poor. However, no need for tiny violins just yet, because we had a solid Plan B. After all, we are astronomers in the UK. 😊
We followed our usual approach of splitting the group in two. Bobby led Group A on a tour of the Royal Observatory, while I accompanied Group B to the Planetarium. After the first sessions, the groups swapped so everyone could enjoy both experiences in turn.
For the first Planetarium show, we had a brief wait in the café while a physics group wrapped up their session. Once inside, we were greeted by Mario, one of the ROG’s friendly astronomers. Mario gave us a brilliant presentation, showing what we could have seen in the night sky if the weather had been clear. It might sound like a tease, but it was genuinely enjoyable - especially from the comfort of those cosy chairs, safely out of the cold!
Mario then treated us to a captivating tour of the solar system and beyond. His presentation was not only informative but also fun, leaving us all in awe of the vastness of space.
Meanwhile, Bobby was having a great time guiding Group A on a historical tour of the Royal Observatory. He started with the building’s origins, moved on to the Longitude Problem and the iconic Harrison clocks, and finally took the group to the Prime Meridian. Along the way, Bobby kept things lively with fun fact quizzes and handed out chocolate treats for correct answers. Judging by the clapping I heard after the tour, it’s safe to say everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
That said, Bobby didn’t leave me any chocolates - so I’ll be sure to get my revenge next time!
All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening, proving that even poor weather can’t dampen the fun when you’ve got great company and engaging activities.
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