WELL, after all the build-up and anticipation the lunar eclipse has come and gone, writes STUART ATKINSON. I hope you managed to see at least some of it because the next time a total lunar eclipse is visible in the UK from start to finish will be in 2029.

The most notable astronomical event going on this coming week is happening in the morning sky, before sunrise. Look to the south east around 6.30pm-7pm and you'll see a pair of bright stars low in the sky in that direction, shining together side by side. The brighter of the two, on the left, is the beautiful planet Venus, blazing away like a silvery-blue flare. Beside it, to its right, Jupiter is fainter and more yellow-hued. These two worlds have been coming together in the pre-dawn sky for a while now, and were at their closest last week. Now they are beginning to move apart again, but are still a lovely sight in the purple-gold pre-dawn sky, especially if you have a pair of binoculars handy to zoom in on them.

Cross your fingers for clear skies before sunrise of January 30 because on that morning Venus and Jupiter will be joined in the south east by a beautiful waning crescent Moon. Shining close together the three objects will look absolutely gorgeous in the sky. This is a great photo opportunity, and even just using the camera on your phone you should be able to take a great picture of it as the sky begins to brighten.