Have you ever been curious about the wonders of our skies? Or wanted to observe star constellations and phenomena like the Northern Lights without the interference of light pollution? This is your chance!
Join us for an Astronomy Sailing in 2024 and experience a unique blend of natural beauty and astronomical exploration. Enjoy insightful lectures from astronomers and deepen your understanding of the universe.
Learn from our experts from the Royal Astronomical Society
On our astronomy sailings, participants will have the opportunity to attend lectures from experienced English-speaking astronomers.
Meet our lecturers
Ian Ridpath
Ian Ridpath is a respected writer and lecturer in the fields of astronomy and space, known internationally.
He serves as the editor of the esteemed Oxford Dictionary of Astronomy and has penned a popular series of night sky guides tailored for beginners. As a valued member of the Royal Astronomical Society’s outreach team, Ian has been guiding enthusiasts to witness the Northern Lights in Norway since 2010.
John Zarnecki
John Zarnecki is a distinguished English space scientist.
Zarnecki's expertise has not gone unnoticed; he has been awarded the Royal Astronomical Society's Gold Medal and has served as both its Vice-President and President since 2016. He has held notable positions, including Director of the International Space Science Institute in Switzerland and Professor of Space Science at the Open University. With his extensive involvement in significant space probe missions, he is a leading authority on space debris, cosmic dust, and impacts.
Note that each lecturer will be present on different sailings (overview below).
2024 Astronomy Sailings
Secure your spot for only £250 | €291 | $303 on one of the sailings listed below by choosing it as an add-on service during the booking process for your trip. *All dates refer to departures from Bergen.
Havila Capella — 1 Feb
Ian Ridpath
Welcome to Norway: Introduction to the voyage and an insight into what lies ahead on your journey.
Fantastic Northern Lights: Wonders of the auroras – exploring their visual splendor, associated legends, and the science behind them.
Stories of the Stars: constellations, their significance in myths, art, and positions in the night sky.
When We Walked on the Moon: The Apollo missions
The Planets: Our neighbour worlds in space
Comets, the Ghostly Wanderers: Learn about comets and their voyages through the cosmos.
Eclipses of the Sun and Moon: Understand the dynamics and importance of both solar and lunar eclipses.
Havila Polaris — 2 March
Professor John Zarnecki
The Northern Lights – What, Why, and When: Exploring the wonders of the aurorae, the science behind them, the associated mythology, and anticipated observations.
Are We Alone? Life in the Universe: This is arguably the biggest question faced by science today. Current attempts to search for extraterrestrial life and prospects for finding ET will be described.
Titan – The Moon That Thinks It's a Planet: Titan, Saturn’s largest moon and the second largest in the Solar System, is one of its most exotic. With lakes and seas, an atmosphere, weather, and possibly even a subsurface ocean, current and future ground- and space-based explorations will be described.
Spacecraft I Have Known and Loved: Personal reflections from a 40-year career as a 'Rocket Scientist.
Red Giants, White Dwarfs, Clusters, and Other Strange Cosmic Creatures: The sky is full of strange and exotic objects, many visible to the naked eye or with small binoculars. Some of these different types of objects will be described.
Comets – From Mythology to Reality: In the last 40 years, spacecraft have been sent to comets, landed on one, and even returned some cometary dust to Earth. What have we learned about these enigmatic objects?
What Happens When Space Goes Wrong: Spacecraft are remarkably reliable, but sometimes things go awry. Some of the most infamous failures in space exploration will be discussed.
Havila Polaris — 30 Oct
Ian Ridpath
Welcome to Norway: An introduction to the voyage and an insight into what lies ahead on your journey.
Fantastic Northern Lights: The wonders of the auroras – exploring their visual splendor, associated legends, and the scientific explanations behind these natural displays.
Stories of the Stars: The constellations, their significance in myths, art, and their positions in the night sky.
When We Walked on the Moon: The Apollo missions
The Planets: Our neighbour worlds in space
Comets, the Ghostly Wanderers: Learn about comets and their intriguing voyages through the cosmos.
Eclipses of the Sun and Moon: Understand the dynamics and importance of both solar and lunar eclipses.
*Due to time limitations, lectures will not be held during Havila Voyages’ stay in Tromsø or on the transition day in Kirkenes.
Northern Lights Promise
Catch the best and brightest Northern Lights this season with Havila Voyages.
From 1 October to 31 March, we promise that you will witness the Northern Lights on the Bergen-Kirkenes-Bergen round trip.