I am about to set off on a two month assignment on Viking Vela in search of the Northern Lights. I’m really looking forward to this assignment as I love seeing the guests reaction to seeing the lights for the first time. I’ll be giving several talks on each 12 night cruise including, “Celestial Lights”. I’ll also be doing a talk on “Photographing the Northern Light” where I will give the guests tips about getting the best out of their cameras and smartphones to photograph the Aurora. During the cruises, I will also be conducting my “Aurora Watch” sessions on deck 9 of the ship. Fingers crossed the weather is good and we get good showings of the Nordlys.”

I’ve just returned from a very successful assignment on Saga Spirit of Discovery where I delivered 5 very well received talks and conducted a successful stargazing night on deck. I’m only home for a few days before I head to Norway for two months of Northern Lights chasing!

I’ll be guest astronomy speaker on the wonderful Saga Spirit of Discovery over Xmas and New Year. We will be in the Canaries and the beautiful Madeira over the holidays and I’ll be delivering lectures and stargazing nights as we enjoy the amazing ship. I’ll try and post photos later.

My next astronomy assignment is drawing near! I will be Resident Astronomer on the wonderful Viking Jupiter travelling from Barcelona to Buenos Aires and during that voyage I will be delivering lectures, planetarium shows and stargazing nights for guests. I will also be using my Dwarf 3 smart telescope to observe the Sun and hopefully guests will have the opportunity to see some sunspots!

The latest addition to Exetrer Observatory is a DwarfLab Dwarf 3 smart telescope and I have to say, it is incredible. Controlled by an app on a phone or tablet, it is a very easy way to observe and image targets in the night sky as well as the Sun, wildlife, panoramas, timelapse videos and more.

Check it out here.

Exmple of images taken with my Dwarf 3.

My assignment on Queen Mary 2 was very enjoyable and successful. Trans Atlantic crossings, with 7 days at sea, can be challenging for guests but Cunard have an excellent Insights lecture programme. I delivered 3 talks during the crossing and I also had a Q&A session that lasted for an hour and a half with many excellent questions. I am now at home for just over a month before joining Viking Jupiter for a trip from Barcelona to Buenos Aires.

I am currently in Norwich, Connecticut visiting my son who works at the US Navy base in Groton but, on September 3rd I will be embarking Cunard’s flagship, Queen Mary 2 in New York to begin an assignment from New York to Southampton. I’ll be delivering several talks on astronomy and astrophysics in the Illuminations Theatre and maybe even conducting planetarium shows. The weather during an Atlantic crossing is not usually clear enough for stargazing but, fingers crossed!

On the 22nd of July I went on a “bear hunt” to the Spasski River Forest. As soon as we arrived we saw a bear hunting salmon in the river. It was an amazing sight. More images will appear in the gallery!

In June and July I will be the Resident Astronomer on Viking Orion as we sail in fabulous Alaska. During the four voyages I will be covering I will be delivering lectures and planetarium shows on this wonderful ship. Updates will follow.

My next assignment begins on April 10th 2025 when I fly to Capetown to join Cunard’s latest addition to the fleet, Queen Anne. I am looking forward to experiencing the new ship and finding some warmth and sunshine after the cold of Norway! I will be sailing from Capetown to Southampton via Namibia, Senegal and the Canaries. More updates later!