***Please note that this is the archived page for the 2023 Into the Cosmos event. This event is not taking place in January 2024. Have a look at our main events page for other family friendly events which we have taking place.***
Take a trip into the Cosmos with researchers at Oxford Physics. You will begin your trip on Earth before visiting our nearest neighbours, the Moon and the planets in our solar system. Explore strange new worlds and hear about how we hunt for life on distant planets. Let us guide you through our own galaxy and those billions of light years away.
The event will include stalls, hands-on activities, talks, a planetarium and more!
No booking required, but you may need to queue for a little while so bring warm clothes.
New name, new look!
This event will be a similar format to Stargazing Oxford. However, the event will be smaller (so expect to stay for less time) with a greater opportunity to explore the vastness of the Universe through a curated experience.
Timetable: Plan your visit
Please expect to queue to enter the building.
- 2pm: Doors open for day-time activities (hands-on stalls, talks and planetarium)
- 5.30pm: Night-sky observing begins (if clear)
- 6pm: Last entry for the day-time activities
- 8pm: End of night-sky observing.
Talks (subject to change):
- 2:20-2:35: The Event Horizon: Black Holes in the Universe - Rob Fender
- 2:40-2:55: In a Spin: Galaxies and Dark Matter - Kathryn Boast
- 3:00-3:15: Journey on the Exoplanet Express (all ages) - Belinda Nicholson
- 3:20-3:35: Peering deeper Into the Cosmos with JWST- Aayush Saxena
- 3:40-3:55: The Hunt for Biosignatures on Other Worlds - Jayne Birkby
- 4:00-4:15: What do Ducks and Stars have in Common? - Jakob van den Eijnden
- 4:20-4:35: Gravitational Waves and Multi-Messenger Astronomy - John Miller
- 4:40-4:55: Cosmos and Canvas: Creating Astronomy Images - Jayanne English
- 5:00-5:15: What we know and don’t know about the Universe - Matthew Colless
- 5:20-5:35: Space Lighthouses: the Science of Pulsars - Lucy Oswald
- 5:40-5:55: The Dark Heart of the Milky Way - Pat Roche
- 6:00-6:15: It’s Never Aliens - Chris Lintott
Night-sky observing
The night sky observing will be led by two local amateur astronomy groups:
Chipping Norton Amateur Astronomy Group
Access to the building
Please be aware that there are stairs to access the building and there will be no lift access except for disabled guests. If you require disabled access to the event, on arrival please call 01865 273333 and someone will give you directions and come and meet you.
Guests with young children in pushchairs will be asked to leave pushchairs at reception and carry children up the stairs to the activities which take place on the upper levels of the building.