The autumnal equinox occurs in September each year, and in the northern hemisphere the date marks the end of summer and beginning of autumn. The Earth is tilted on its axis. This means that the Sun ...

Make the most of your trip with our picks of the best things to see and do in Greenwich London Greenwich is a truly special day out in London, combining world class attractions with a charming village ...

The East India Company employed Asian seamen known as 'Lascars' in the 17th century, who served on European ships. The first European use of the word ‘Lascar’ dates back to the Portuguese employment ...

In 1854 Robert McClure was credited as the first man to navigate the North-West Passage – although much of his journey was over ice, rather than water. In 1850 Robert McClure led one of the many ...

Prolific letter-writer, influencer and an expert in Arctic geography, this is the story of Jane Franklin When her husband went missing Jane Franklin studied the Arctic from afar, becoming an armchair ...

The ‘Vikings’ were seafaring raiders and traders from Scandinavia. The period known as the Viking Age lasted from AD 700 until 1100. ‘Viking’ was the name given to the seafarers from Norway, Denmark, ...

The Geminid meteor shower is one of the last of the year’s major showers, and can generally be relied on to put on a good display. In 2024, the Geminid meteor shower will be active between 4-20 ...

Crew agreements for British-registered merchant ships, crew lists or muster-rolls and official ships' logs are of particular interest to genealogists and people tracing family history, and to anyone ...

Currently all seminars are taking place online via Zoom webinars. Please check the event listings for links and information on how to join. Our free talks cover a range of fascinating subjects, from ...

What could have been the Star of Bethlehem? Over the years many astronomical explanations have been suggested for this key aspect of the Christmas story. Some of what we know of the Star of Bethlehem ...

Want to know what to see in the night sky this year? Royal Observatory astronomers pick out the must-see moments of 2024 There are plenty of exciting astronomical sights to see in the night sky in ...