Night sky: questions and Band 8 answers

Not as often as I would like, to be honest. I live right in the middle of a bustling city, so there is an awful lot of light pollution. Every now and then, if I am out on my balcony late on a crisp, clear evening, I will gaze up for a few minutes.

You really have to get away from the urban sprawl. There is a scenic hill about a half-hour drive from my flat where people often go stargazing. It offers an unobstructed view of the horizon, and you can see countless constellations on a pitch-black night.

Yes, I remember doing a primary school project on the solar system. We built little models of the planets, which was great fun. My science teacher was really passionate about astronomy, so she taught us how to spot the North Star and Orion's Belt.

Definitely at night. While a sunny blue sky is cheerful, the night sky feels far more captivating and mysterious. It really puts things into perspective when you look up and realise just how tiny we are compared to the vastness of the universe.

I would be tempted, but in reality, I think I would be far too terrified. Floating in zero gravity sounds fascinating, but the thought of rocket launches gives me butterflies. I suppose I am much happier observing the cosmos through a telescope from solid ground.