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 2025 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).
Astronomy Sailings
Secure your spot for only 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.
Professor John Zarnecki — 21 Jan
- 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: 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: Saturn’s largest moon and the second largest in the Solar System, is one of its most exotic. Lakes and seas, 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: 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.
- 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?
- 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.
Ian Ridpath — 23 Feb
- Welcome to Norway: Introduction to the voyage and insight into what lies ahead.
- 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 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: The dynamics and importance of both solar and lunar eclipses.
Ian Ridpath — 15 Oct
- Welcome to Norway: Introduction to the voyage and insight into what lies ahead.
- 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 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: The dynamics and importance of both solar and lunar eclipses.
Professor John Zarnecki — 14 Nov
- 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: 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: Saturn’s largest moon and the second largest in the Solar System, is one of its most exotic. Lakes and seas, 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: 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.
- 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?
- 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.