I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all my visitors a very Merry Christmas and a Happy new year for 2011!

Here is a great preview of an upcoming Christmas special on the BBC called “The One Ronnie” starring Ronnie Corbett.

Here he complains that his “blackberry” is not working – brilliant.

With freezing temperatures already blanketing much of the UK, the arrival of the winter solstice on December 21 may not be an occasion many people feel like celebrating. But a dazzling total lunar eclipse to start the day might just raise a few chilled spirits.

Early in the morning on December 21 the start of a total lunar eclipse will be visible to sky watchers across the UK before moonset.

While it is merely a coincidence that the eclipse falls on the same date as this year’s winter solstice, for eclipse watchers this means that the moon will appear very high in the night sky, as the solstice marks the time when the Earth’s axial tilt is farthest away from the sun.  This is the first time since 1638.

The eclipse is due to begin at 5.28am becomes completely eclipsed at 7.40am.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth lines up directly between the sun and the moon, blocking the sun’s rays and casting a shadow on the moon. As the moon moves deeper and deeper into the Earth’s shadow, the moon changes color before your very eyes, turning from gray to an orange or deep shade of red.

Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are perfectly safe to view without any special glasses or equipment. All you need is you own two eyes.