Moon samples land at Reading for NASA observation night

Samples of the Moon will be available to view up close at the University of Reading as stargazers get set for an evening of celebrating Earth’s nearest neighbour.

Rocks recovered from the NASA Apollo Moon missions will be displayed at Whiteknights campus on Saturday, 24 October, accompanied by outdoor stargazing and a series of talks for International Observe the Moon Night 2026. 

This is the third time the University has hosted the event, which was originally organised by NASA and is replicated in various events all over the world.

Dr James O'Donoghue, the University of Reading planetary scientist spearheading this year's event, explained: "Having real Apollo Moon samples on campus is a genuine once-in-a-lifetime moment for our visitors. These are actual pieces of another world, brought back by astronauts decades ago, and now people in Reading can stand right next to them. Pair that with a telescope view of the Moon overhead, and you get a rare chance to connect the history you can hold with the sky you can see."

The afternoon will commence with ticketed indoor talks from leading academics spanning multiple disciplines, from archaeology and classics to meteorology and planetary science, running from 3pm to 6pm, before outdoor stargazing activities take place from 6pm to 8pm, weather permitting. Running alongside the main programme, the Ure Museum will be open from 2pm to 8pm, displaying the lunar samples and other space materials. 

Registration for the event is open to everyone and is not limited, but those wishing to attend the indoor talks must request a talk ticket by selecting the option on the registration form. These talk tickets are limited to 350 and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration without a talk ticket still provides access to the Ure Museum display and outdoor stargazing activities.

Registration is now open: Book tickets for the Observe the Moon Night 2026

The talks will be recorded and made available online on the University of Reading's International Observe the Moon Night event page. Visitors who cannot attend the main event on Saturday can still view the Apollo Moon samples at the Ure Museum, with no registration required, on Friday 23 October and Sunday 25 October, from midday to 4pm.

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