Evening events are back with a bang at Winchester Science Centre this autumn and winter.

A mix of family and adult only events will take place throughout the dark months from monthly outdoor stargazing at Night Sky Live (October to March) to the spooktacular Science Explained: Not So Creepy Critters and the Halloween horror movie themed Science Lates.

Families are invited to head outside into the South Downs National Park to discover the stars and planets of the night sky, live. Visitors will start their adventure in the Planetarium where they will learn the skills needed to identify what’s up in the sky.

Armed with knowledge, families will then follow the stargazing host out into the South Downs National Park – an international dark sky reserve, the perfect spot to observe the stars, constellations and planets.

Daily Echo: Night Sky Live will return to Winchester Science Centre

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Halloween critters are crawling out of the Science Centre shadows on Thursday October 26. But families do not need to be afraid as they are invited to come and meet them to find out why they are more curious than creepy.

Visitors will join animal encounter experts, ZooLab, for creature interactions and a live talk. Families can get hands on with snakes, lizards and tarantulas and discover more about snake venoms, explore the science of scales and find out about fangs and claws. 

If you thought Winchester Science Centre was just for kids, think again! This frightful season head to Science Lates to unearth the science behind horror movies. Who is brave enough to enter the Science Centre at night?

Daily Echo: Science Lates will bring the science of horror movies to life

Visitors are invited to experience live blood-curdling talks where blood squib and spatter demos will bring to life the science behind some iconic horror movie moments from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Exorcist. Live make-up tutorials will reveal the tricks used to create realistic-looking wounds and zombie bites and special effects science demos, such as the dry ice cannon and puking pumpkins, will show how iconic scenes from the movies have a background in science.

For even more frightful fun, horror fans can enter the darkness of the Planetarium where spooky soundscapes will echo around the dome.

Visit winchestersciencecentre.org/whats-on/science-lates-october