Eastbourne stargazing at Helen Garden: first night Sat 17 Oct

Free public stargazing returns to Helen Garden in Meads on Saturday 17 October, from 6pm to 8pm, the first of five sessions running to March. Members of Eastbourne Astronomical Society set up their telescopes in the garden and talk visitors through what is overhead.

The dates come from the borough council’s Visit Eastbourne listing, which links to the society as organiser. The society’s own public observing page gives the practical rules. As of Sunday 11 October the society had not yet posted the new season’s dates itself, so check its site on the day if the weather is doubtful.

The five dates

Source: Visit Eastbourne listing, read 11 October 2026.

The start time moves through the winter to follow sunset, which the society says is deliberate. Last season ran four dates, from 25 October 2025 to 21 February 2026, according to the council’s release at the time. This season adds a March date.

Where, what it costs, and when it is called off

• Where: Helen Garden, King Edwards Parade, Meads, BN20 7XL. The society describes a small shelter in the garden and plenty of roadside parking nearby.
• Cost: free of charge, per the society. The council listing shows no price.
• Weather: the council listing says the session will not go ahead if it rains. The society adds that snow, ice or high winds cancel it on safety grounds.
• Access: the society calls the event “ability friendly”.

What to bring

The society’s advice is short:

• warm clothing, because standing still on the seafront in October gets cold
• a red-light torch rather than a white one, to protect everyone’s night vision
• or set a phone screen to red through its colour filter accessibility settings

Society members provide the telescopes and specialised cameras and answer questions, the council’s 2025 release said. Last year hot drinks were sold on some dates. Nothing on either page says whether that is repeated this season.

What is up there in October

Saturn reached opposition, its closest and brightest point of the year, on Sunday 4 October. The society’s post on it says it hopes for a good view of the planet at its Helen Garden public session, and at its members’ observing night at Arlington.

Councillor Jenny Williams, the council’s lead member for tourism and place, called Eastbourne “the perfect place to begin an exploration of the night sky” when last season’s dates were announced.

What it means for you

• No booking, no cost. Turn up at Helen Garden on Saturday 17 October between 6pm and 8pm. Children are welcome; the sessions are run for beginners.
• Check the sky first. A wet or windy forecast means no session. The society’s website is where a cancellation would appear.
• Parking. King Edwards Parade has roadside parking; our parking in Eastbourne page covers the seafront bays and charges.
• More from the society. Eastbourne Astronomical Society is a registered educational charity, number 1105267, and holds its monthly lectures at Willingdon Memorial Hall. Membership details are on its joining page.

For the rest of the month, see things to do in Eastbourne and our October half term page.