Chris Cooke Astronomy

I am a professional astronomer with a passion for making the universe accessible and awe-inspiring for everyone. Based in Devon, I proudly serve as the Chairman of the Plymouth Astronomical Society.


Whether I'm guiding you through a starry night sky in a stargazing experience or bringing excitement to classrooms, festivals, and corporate events, my goal is to inspire curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the cosmos.


✨ With over 25 years of exploring the stars and sharing the beauty of space, I'm here to bring science and wonder down to Earth.


🌠 Join me on this cosmic journey as we look up, explore, and marvel together!

Contact Me

For general enquiries, please reach out via email or phone:

NASA Picture of the Day

Afterimage Sunset - 2025-05-31

Afterimage Sunset

On May 7, the Sun setting behind a church bell tower was captured in this filtered and manipulated digital skyscape from Ragusa, Sicily, planet Earth. In this version of the image the colors look bizarre. Still, an intriguing optical illusion known as an afterimage can help you experience the same scene with a more natural looking appearance. To try it, find the sunspots of active region AR4079 grouped near the bottom of the blue solar disk. Relax and stare at the dark sunspot group for about 30 seconds, then close your eyes or shift your gaze to a plain white surface. In a moment an afterimage of the sunset should faintly appear. But the afterimage sunset will have this image's complementary colors and a more normal yellow Sun against a familiar blue sky.

© Marcella Giulia Pace