Tag: astronomy

Win Wish Upon A Star Books!

Posted on | by Jo at Whizz Pop Bang | 31 Comments on Win Wish Upon A Star Books!

This month, we’re giving away five copies of the stunning new book Wish Upon a Star: The Science, Magic and Meaning of Stars published by Flying Eye Books!

This beautifully illustrated book is a children’s guide to the science, stories and symbolism of stars, exploring their role across cultures, histories and scientific discovery. Bursting with facts, myths and cosmic wonder, Wish Upon a Star is perfect for curious young minds who want to understand how stars shape our world and our imagination.

✨ Learn about different types of stars, constellations and galaxies
🧭 Discover how stars have been used for navigation across the centuries
🎨 Explore how stars have inspired art, stories and mythology around the world
🔭 Find out how scientists study stars and what they reveal about the universe

Whether your child is into science, space, history or storytelling, this magical journey through the cosmos is a brilliant companion to our space-themed issues of Whizz Pop Bang!

How to enter

To win one of five copies of Wish Upon a Star, simply answer this question in the comments:

Which of these is a constellation?
a) The Dolphin
b) The Spoon
c) The Big Dipper

This competition closes at midnight on 31st October 2025. Find full terms and conditions here.

🌌 Good luck, stargazers!

Wish Upon a Star makes a perfect gift for any child who loves space, storytelling or science – and it’s the ideal companion to Whizz Pop Bang: Rocket RIders. Not yet a subscriber? Start your subscription here and blast off into a universe of fun!


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How to see the Perseid meteor shower in 2025

Posted on | by Jo at Whizz Pop Bang | Leave a Comment on How to see the Perseid meteor shower in 2025

The Perseid meteor shower is a spectacle not to be missed as, if conditions are right, it’s a great opportunity to spot lots of bright meteors – around 100 per hour!

In 2025, the Perseids are visible between 17th July – 24th August, but in 2025 the meteor shower reaches it peak on 12th August.

Here are some top tips for how to spot meteors:

☄️ Research the best time to spot the meteor shower – for the Perseids in 2025 in the UK, this is between midnight and 5.30am on 12th August. The days leading up to this date could also be good opportunities to see a good show.
☄️ Ideally, the sky should be dark. You’ll get a better view away from streetlights and when the Moon is not full. In mid-August in the UK, the sky will be darkest after 10pm.
☄️ Unfortunately, in 2025, the peak of the Perseid meteor shower is just three days after a full Moon, so the sky will be quite bright and meteors will be harder to spot than in some years.
☄️ Fill your view with the sky and wait! Lying on the ground is a great way to see as much as possible, or get comfy in a deckchair.
☄️ Give your eyes 15 minutes to get used to the dark
☄️ Check the weather forecast – a clear sky will give a better view.
☄️ Look around! Perseid meteors can appear anywhere in the sky.

Find out everything and more you need to know about the Perseid meteor shower in this brilliant blog post.


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How to spot the Taurid meteor shower 2022

Posted on | by Kirsty Williams | Leave a Comment on How to spot the Taurid meteor shower 2022

The Taurid meteor shower has begun and is due to peak in the UK in the very early hours of Sunday 13th November 2022. Although the Taurids aren’t known for an impressive, dramatic display they do provide a regular sprinkle of meteors throughout October and November so lots of opportunities to spot a shooting star! 💫

When the Earth moves through debris left from passing comets, those particles burn up from the friction with the air when they pass into our atmosphere and create beautiful shooting stars. In the case of the Taurids, the debris is left by the Comet Encke.

Follow these tips from the Royal Observatory in Greenwich for the best chance of meteor-spotting.

For full information about the Lyrids meteor shower, head to this article on the Royal Museums Greenwich website.

☄️Find a dark site with an unobstructed view of the sky.
☄️The best time to see the shower is in the early morning of the peak day, which this year is the morning of the 13th November (the night of the 12th November).
☄️Fill your view with the sky and wait! Lying on the ground is a great way to see as much as possible.
☄️The Taurids are not particularly dramatic but they are wide spread so keep your eyes peeled.
☄️Blanket optional but highly recommended. Reclining deckchairs make an even more comfortable way to view the sky.
☄️Remember to wrap up warm!

Image: Canva


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How to spot the Lyrid meteor shower 2022

Posted on | by Kirsty Williams | Leave a Comment on How to spot the Lyrid meteor shower 2022

The best time to spot the Lyrid meteor in the UK in 2022 is on the night of 22nd – 23rd April. The Lyrids begin on the 14th April this year which is 2 days before a full moon so the sky will still be pretty bright at the peak of the shower which will make spotting meteors a bit tricky – but don’t be deterred! Follow these tips from the Royal Observatory in Greenwich for the best chance of meteor-spotting.

For full information about the Lyrids meteor shower, head to this article on the Royal Museums Greenwich website.

☄️Find a dark site with an unobstructed view of the sky.
☄️The best time to see the shower is in the early morning of the peak day, which this year is the morning of the 23rd April (the night of the 22nd April).
☄️Fill your view with the sky and wait! Lying on the ground is a great way to see as much as possible.
☄️Look towards the Vega constellation – here’s a handy map showing how to find it at this time of year thanks to Astronomy Now.
☄️Blanket optional but highly recommended. Reclining deckchairs make an even more comfortable way to view the sky.
☄️Remember to wrap up warm!

Image: Canva

Whizz Pop Bang is a top-quality, gender-neutral, advert-free science magazine for families everywhere. Each issue is packed with experiments, activities, amazing facts, puzzles, jokes, riddles and more. Find out more here and flick through a space-themed issue here!


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How to spot the Lyrid meteor shower 2021

Posted on | by Jo at Whizz Pop Bang | Leave a Comment on How to spot the Lyrid meteor shower 2021

The best time to spot the Lyrid meteor in the UK in 2021 is on the night of 21st – 22nd April. This year, it coincides with a gibbous Moon, which means that the night sky will be bright, which makes spotting meteors a little harder – but don’t be deterred! Follow these tips from the Royal Observatory in Greenwich for the best chance of meteor-spotting.

For full information about the Lyrids meteor shower, head to this article on the Royal Museums Greenwich website.

☄️Find a dark site with an unobstructed view of the sky.
☄️The best time to see the shower is in the early morning of the peak day, which this year is the morning of the 22 April (the night of the 21 April).
☄️Fill your view with the sky and wait! Lying on the ground is a great way to see as much as possible.
☄️Look towards the Vega constellation – here’s a handy map showing how to find it at this time of year thanks to Astronomy Now.
☄️Blanket optional but highly recommended. Reclining deckchairs make an even more comfortable way to view the sky.
☄️Remember to wrap up warm!

Image: Shutterstock

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Whizz Pop Bang is a top-quality, gender-neutral, advert-free science magazine for families everywhere. Each issue is packed with experiments, activities, amazing facts, puzzles, jokes, riddles and more. Find out more here and flick through a space-themed issue here!


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