I HOPE you all enjoyed seeing Venus blazing in the evening sky over the past few months because the show is over, writes STUART ATKINSON.

It's now so close to the Sun in the sky that we can't see it, and when it does return to the sky it will be a 'morning star,' shining in the east before dawn. It will look just as beautiful as it has done after sunset these past weeks and months, but only insomniacs, night shift workers and vampires will see it.

Instead, you can see the planet Mercury shining low in the west after sunset. It's a lot fainter and less obvious than Venus was, but worth tracking down, just because it graces our sky rarely and then only briefly. Look for a silvery-gold 'star' low in the west around half past seven and don't worry if it doesn't jump out at you right away. Be patient, and keep trying until you find it.

For the next couple of weeks please, please keep an eye on the northern sky after dark on any clear night, because this period is statistically the peak of the spring 'aurora season,' when the northern lights can often be seen further south than usual. On Mother's Day last year a spectacular aurora painted the sky as far south as Norfolk, and while there's no suggestion that will definitely happen again this year there's definitely a chance of some activity. So, after dark look to the north for a green glow, and cross your fingers for pale green-grey beams and pillars of light. No promises, but as I have always told EAS members - if you don't look you'll definitely see nothing!

Stuart Atkinson

Eddington Astronomical Society of Kendal