How to get started:

• Wrap up warm!
• Find a dark spot. If there are streetlights, try to find a place in the shadows.
• Give your eyes time to get used to the dark. It takes 20 minutes. You will see be able to see more and more stars as this happens.
• If you can, use a red light (eg the back light from a bike). This will not spoil your night vision.
• Take time to enjoy the sky! Look out for slow-moving satellites and fast-moving shooting stars.

You should be able to complete the challenges from most places in the UK, although it might be tricky to see the fainter stars if you're right in the middle of a city.

There is a New Moon on 3rd October, so there will be very little moonlight. This will give a dark sky ideal for star-spotting. Look out for the crescent Moon to the left of sunset on 5th October.

If you can get away from streetlights you will be able to see a lot more. The night sky looks spectacular from a dark sky site!

But it can be easier to find bright constellations from somewhere with a bit of light pollution, where you can't see so many stars.

More tips and events

The Go Stargazing website has loads of information for beginners about how and where to go stargazing.

Stargazing apps

Our top picks are Starwalk 2 for Android (pay £0.99 or get it free with ads), and Night Sky for iOS (free). Both have in-app purchases. On Desktop, try the night-sky simulator Stellarium.

Spot the International Space Station

It's really bright, and easy to see when it passes over! Check your location and set alerts.