OUR SEPTEMBER late-night Thursday was a great success.

We welcomed writer and illustrator duo Mick Manning and Brita Granström – authors of beautiful children’s book The Brontës – to the museum.

Visiting children were treated to a mini tutorial on sketching Charlotte, and some of the results were fantastic.

Our October late-night Thursday offers another opportunity to visit the museum after hours, and do something a little different. This month it coincides with Museums at Night on Thursday, October 26.

Museums at Night is a twice-yearly festival of late openings, sleepovers and special events taking place in museums, galleries, libraries, archive and heritage sites all over the UK.

Sleepovers are tricky for us, which is a shame, but we always try and organise fun stuff, and this year is no exception.

Bradford and Keighley Astronomical Societies are joining us for an evening of enlightenment in all things astronomical!

The Brontës lived during an exciting period in astronomical discovery, so it is not surprising that they were interested in the latest developments, and that references to stars, planets and moons populate their work.

The evening begins in Haworth Old School Room with a talk by Rod Hine, from Bradford Astronomical Society, about astronomy in the early to mid 1800s and more recent discoveries.

Green Witch Telescopes, based in Batley, will be bringing an antique brass telescope dated from 1820 – the year the Brontës arrived in Haworth.

So come along to discover more about the night sky in the time of the Brontës, and participate in some observation. Younger ones can take part in a spot of rocket-making, and enjoy launching in the grounds of the Parsonage.

Entrance to the School Room is free (there is £3 charge for the optional rocket-making workshop) and the doors open at 4.30pm with Rod’s talk at approximately 5pm.

The event is aimed at families and astronomy buffs alike, with refreshments available, and the museum is open until 8pm, so it’s the perfect opportunity to have a family evening out in the half-term holiday.

Don’t forget, after 5.30pm entrance to the museum is free to all visitors living in BD22, BD21 and BD20 postcode areas and also to all those living in Thornton, birthplace of the Brontës.

The following night we have a very special Parsonage Unwrapped and Museums at Night event with Grant Montgomery, the production designer for To Walk Invisible.

Grant’s last event at the museum sold out, so here’s a final chance to enjoy an exclusive and intimate look behind the scenes of the reimagining of Branwell’s studio, which is part of our Mansions in the Sky exhibition.

As usual, during the October half-term holiday we will be running a series of family activities, including our popular Wild Wednesday ‘drop-in’ workshop, where you can make a star paper garland. Stars will be everywhere that week!

So come along and join in the fun! Details about events and half-term activities are on the website bronte.org.uk or call 01535 640192 for further information about all our events throughout the autumn.