The South Downs Dark Skies Festival brings cosmic fun for two weeks.

There's an action-packed line up of online real-time night sky tours, short films on wildlife, live instagram chats with accomplished authors and stunning footage of space, as well as an astronomical photography competition - to name just a few of the highlights.

Shine Radio's Claire Vennis spoke to acclaimed astronomer and applied physicist Dr John Mason of the South Downs Planetarium.

Dr John Mason MBE

John has been actively involved in astronomy and space science for almost 50 years. Past President of the British Astronomical Association, a full member of the International Astronomical Union and is currently Education Officer and Principal Lecturer at the South Downs Planetarium in Chichester. He lectures extensively in the UK and overseas on a wide range of scientific topics with a reputation as a passionate communicator of science. He has led many expeditions overseas to observe the Northern Lights, total solar eclipses and meteor showers. He is a frequent broadcaster on radio and television.