In April 1957, the very first Sky at Night programme was broadcast by BBC Television. It was introduced by (Sir) Patrick Moore, who has been presenting the programme ever since. On the BBC Sky at Night website, Sir Patrick writes:
"I am often asked why The Sky at Night has lasted for so long, and will, we hope, last for a long time yet. There are, I think, several reasons. The most important is that the sky is all around us, and surely there can be nobody who can avoid taking at least a passing interest.
"Secondly, astronomy is one of the few sciences in which the amateur can play a really useful role. Amateurs carry out work which professionals have no time to do, have no wish to do, or cannot do. For example, amateurs have always been to the fore in discovering comets and novae, hunting for supernovae, and monitoring events happening on the planets.
"The third reason is that The Sky at Night is non-controversial, goes out late, is unlike any other regular programme, and has a faithful following. This means that as far as the BBC's planners are concerned, it is nobody's enemy."
| |
|||
| | |||
| | |||
| | |||
1st Class - Saturn Nebula C55 A favourite of amateur astronomers named after the Saturn-like shape of the nebula. Discovered by William Herschel in 1782 the Saturn Nebula is about 1400 light-years from the Sun and can be found in the constellation of Aquarius.
1st Class - Eskimo Nebula C39 A planetary nebula with a bright central star that has been likened to a face peering out of fur lined parka. Discovered by William Herschel in 1787 the Eskimo Nebula is about 4000 light-years from the Sun and can be found in the constellation of Gemini.
50p - Cat's Eye Nebula C6 A bright and complex planetary nebula, with a bright central star forming the glint in the cat's eye. Discovered by William Herschel in 1786 the Cat's Eye Nebula is about 3000 light-years from the Sun and can be found in the constellation of Draco
50p - Helix Nebula C63 Easily seen with binoculars, the apparent helical structure gives it its name. Its central star is a very hot dwarf. At 450 light-years from the Sun it is the closest nebula to the Earth and can be found in the constellation of Aquarius.
72p - Flaming Star Nebula C31 The distinctive purple colour of the nebula is caused by ionising radiation from the Flaming Star, AE Aurigae, a runaway star from the Orion Nebula. The Flaming Star Nebula is 1600 light-years from the Sun and can be found in the constellation of Auriga.
72p - The Spindle C53 A lenticular galaxy with a bright nucleus, the Spindle contains a black hole that is about one billion times as massive as the Sun. Visible with powerful binoculars the Spindle is 32 million light-years from the Sun near the constellation of Sextans.
The 32x30mm stamps are designed by Dick Davies. Self-adhesive stamps in sheets of 30/60 of each value* are printed in gravure by Walsall Security Printers. (*They cannot truly be described as se-tenant because they are self-adhesive.) The backing paper is printed with information about the subjects of the stamps. All images except Norvic FDCs are Copyright Royal Mail 2006/07.
Photography details as provided by Royal Mail: - 1st Class: B Balick(U Washington) et al,WFPC2, HST, NASA. - 1st: NASA, Andrew Fruchter and the ERO Team, Sylvia Baggett (STScl), Richard Hook (ST-ECF), Zoltan Levay (STScl). - 50p: NASA, ESA, HEIC, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScl/AURA), R.Corradi (Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes, Spain) and Z. Tsvetanov (NASA). - 50p: NASA, NOAO, ESA, the Hubble Helix Nebula Team, M Meixner (STScl), and T.A. Rector (NRAO). - 72p: Robert Gendler. - 72p: John Kormendy, University of Texas at Austin, USA.
Our limited edition FDC for these stamps shows the Orion Nebula M42 and will be available with a choice of two postmarks. The covers are priced at £8.95 each.
Also available:
Mint or vfu - Price £4.25
Presentation Pack - Price £4.75
PO FDCs with any postmark - Price £4.95
Set of 6 Stamp Cards unused - Price £2.50
Set of 6 stamp cards serviced with relevant stamps and appropriate postmarks - Price £6.75
Any postmark can be supplied on plain envelope for £1.20 plus the cost of the stamp.
All prices exclude postage & packing. To order, please visit our online shop; products not yet shown will be added shortly.
Special Postmarks
Postmarks available for the day of issue are shown below - these may not be to scale. These postmarks cannot be obtained after the date of issue.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Ref FD705 Philatelic Bureau Official Postmark |
Ref FD706 Star, Glenrothes, Official Postmark |
Ref FD706NP Star, Glenrothes, Official non-pictorial Postmark |
Ref N10390 50 Years of the Television Programme The Sky at Night GBFDC Association, Moore, Warrington |
Ref N10387 Sky at Night, Macclesfield |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Ref L10380 British Astronomical Association, London |
Ref L10379 Sky at Night, Pinner, Middlesex |
Ref N10391 50th anniversary of Sputnik, Jodrell Bank, Macclesfield |
Ref N10389 The Sky at Night, Liverpool Astronomical Society, Rex Hill Observatory, Widnes |
Ref N10388 West Yorkshire Astronomical Society, Pontefract |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Ref L10381 Sky at Night, Pinner, Middlesex |
Ref M10359 The Sky at Night, Moore Crescent, Birmingham |
Ref L10326 50th Anniv. of The Sky at Night, Greenwich London SE16 |
Ref S10392 Sky at Night, Star, Glenrothes, Fife |
Ref W10393 The Sky at Night, Delabole (Cornwall) |
 |
 |
 |
||
| Ref L10399 Good Heavens Above, The Sky at Night, Flaming Star Nebula London W9 |
Ref L10400 The Seven Sisters Cluster, The Sky at Night, Selsey Sussex |
Ref M10406 The North Star, Northampton |
If you have any questions about these stamps please email us. NB: all emails will be acknowledged in 1-2 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement please email us from a different address (eg hotmail, gmail).
This page updated 23 May 2007
|
January 9 The Beatles 16 Definitive LOVE booklet |
February 1 Sealife of the British Coast 13 The Sky at Night |
March 1 World of Invention 1 Glorious Wales Smiler Sheet 22 Abolition of the Slave Trade 27 Definitive & Country stamps |
April 23 Celebrating England miniature sheet and Glorious England Smilers Sheet |
May 15 Beside the Seaside 17 Wembley Stadium MS and Smilers |
June 5 Machins 40th Anniversary miniature sheetPSB, & Smilers |
| July 3 Motor racing Grand Prix 17 Harry Potter books 26 Centenary of Scouting (Europa) |
August |
September 4 Endangered Species - birds 20 British Military Uniforms (I) |
October 16 60th Wedding Anniversary of HM the Queen |
November 6 Christmas 8 Lest We Forget 30 Glorious Scotland Smilers |
|