Essential information
| Type | Events and festivals |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Date and times | Wednesday 11 February 2026 | 10am–5pm |
| Prices | Guided tour £5, all other activities free |
| Free for Members. Not a Member? Join now |
The Royal Observatory is celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science with inspiring activities, talks and tours celebrating the vital contributions women have made to science and the work of the Observatory.
The day will shine a spotlight on women’s achievements in science and astronomy, up to and including the recent appointment of Professor Michele Dougherty as England's Astronomer Royal in 2025 - the first woman to hold that title.
There will be astronomers on hand to provide expert answers to your questions, a series of free talks, interactive sessions for all ages, and a guided tour exploring how women helped to shape this important scientific institution.
Explore the programme below. Everything is included with entry to the Royal Observatory except for the tour, which has an additional fee.
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Activities
From 11.30am – Get the answer to your burning space questions at 'Ask the Astronomer'
From 11.30am – Come and learn about planetary symbols
From 2.30pm – Try your hand at the 'Pleasures of Astronomy' board game
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Talks
12.15pm – The Founding of the Royal Observatory
12.45pm – The Greenwich Time Lady
1.15pm – The Great Equatorial Telescope and Astrophysics
1.45pm – Lady Computers
2pm – The Meridian Observatory and the Prime Meridian Line
2.30pm – Women and Girls in Space Exploration
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Guided tour
11am and 3pm | £5 for adults | Free for Members
Join a tour of the Royal Observatory dedicated to showcasing the stellar contributions women have made to astronomy since the Observatory was founded 350 years ago.
Learn about the first woman to be paid for astronomical work, the 'Greenwich Time Lady' and solar photography pioneer Annie Maunder, and hear how these women impacted the world as we know it today.
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