Stargazing Live which was on the BBC on 8 ,9 and 10 January was its usual hit, I don't know the actual viewing figures but there were plenty of people talking about it on social media. I am pleased to say they gave much prominence to Comet ISON which I first mentioned in my November BATS! In conjunction with Stargazing Live, my local astronomy club had open nights on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th. I attended on the Friday night, taking along my walking partner Lynda, an astronomy novice. One of our members had put together a presentation – a slide show of images taken with our own 16 inch refracting telescope and CCD camera – with a detailed explanation of some features on the Moon, how the Galilean moons of Jupiter change from night to night and stills of Saturn over many years, showing how the fabulous rings alter from our perspective. Lynda seemed to enjoy it and when I asked her afterwards if it was understandable, she said it was, so well done Mike! Friday night was extremely well attended, in fact there was standing room only for late-comers. I didn't go on the Saturday and at the time of writing I don't know yet how well that went. I hope it was as successful as the Friday evening was.

• 01: The Moon passes 0.3° south of Spica (alpha Virginis)
• 03: The Moon passes 3° south of Saturn
• 07: The Moon is at perigee (closest to Earth)
• 08: Mercury and Mars pass within 0.3°
• 10: New Moon
• 10: Chinese New Year (the Year of the Snake)
• 11: The Moon passes 5° north of Mercury
• 13: The Moon passes 4° north of Uranus
• 18: The Moon passes 1° south of Jupiter
• 19: The Moon is at apogee (furthest from Earth)
• 25: Full Moon (the Snow Moon)

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