Isaac Newton's sky at night

BBC Sky At Night co-presenter Chris Lintott will be joined by amateur astronomers from Grantham, Melton and Nottingham for a special 'Moongaze' event at Woolsthorpe Manor next month as part of the Gravity Fields festival.

Open to the public, 'Ask The Astronomer and Moongaze' on September 25 offers the chance to look into the same night sky Newton would have gazed at in the mid 1600's as a boy. The same sky and stars inspired much of his world-changing thinking in his early twenties when he returned to his Woolsthorpe birthplace and mused on the relationship of the moon to the earth - and that apple!

Dr Lintott will first be at nearby Colsterworth Village Hall to answer question about the universe and see if he can draw inspiration from Isaac Newton's childhood home and the famous apple tree. The Royal Society Kohn Prize winner says he can answer anything. Or can he?

Chris, a researcher at the University of Oxford, will then be joined at Woolsthorpe Manor by local astronomers from Grantham , Nottingham and Melton Mowbray, all supplying telescopes to allow visitors a new angle on the universe and primarily the moon - expected to be between first quarter and full.

Gravity Fields (September 21 - 28) is a science and arts festival in a long overdue celebration of the life and discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton. Its 100-plus events cover an exciting range of shows, science presentations (both serious and fun), theatre, arts, outdoor performance, exhibitions, heritage, children's events - and even a pub quiz.

Newton's birthplace is also hosting its own week-long programme of Festival fringe events

Ask The Astronomer and Moongaze: 7pm Tuesday September 25.
Full programme and tickets online www.gravityfields.co.uk or via the Gravity Fields Box Office - 01476 406158