Amateur stargazers unlock the secret wonders of our night sky

STARGAZERS were given a clear view of gas giant Jupiter at an astronomy event held in Alvaston Park.

Despite cloudy weather and "poor" viewing conditions, dozens of keen amateur astronomers packed into the park on Saturday evening for the event.

High-powered telescopes were set up behind the community centre for people to peer into the sky and inside the building, youngsters were enjoying science experiments and crafts.

The event was organised by Derby and District Astronomical Society and was held to coincide with the Stargazing Live series being broadcast on BBC2.

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Joshua Samuels, seven, was looking through the telescopes with his mum Yvette Hemmings.

Mrs Hemmings, of Haydn Road, Chaddesden, said: "I bought Joshua a telescope about a year ago and we have come tonight to learn how to use it properly.

"He has seen the moon through it but that's about it. Hopefully, he'll have a better idea after tonight."

On hand to help stargazers was Mike Lancaster from the Derby and District Astronomy Society.

He said: "This telescope here is my own and it has two to three hundred times magnification.

"We will be looking at Jupiter closer tonight. But it is quite cloudy and the viewing conditions are quite poor. Still, we'll be trying to see the Orion nebula if we can."

Inside, Barbara Chilvers and her daughter Jessica Gray, seven, were making rockets out of cardboard and glitter.

The 36-year-old, of Derby, said: "It is a really good event which should interest a lot more people in astronomy.

"They have set it up really well and really makes it engaging for kids."

It was the second Derby event to take place linked to the BBC's astronomy show.

Earlier in the week, the University of Derby was featured in the live programmes for its recreation of a legendary telescope.

The episode featured a 20ft working model of a telescope used by Sir Frederick William Herschel, who is considered one of the greats of astronomical history for, among other achievements, his discovery of the planet Uranus and its moons.

It was built at the university with help from the Derby and District Astronomical Society. It will remain a permanent fixture at the University of Derby's Markeaton Street site.