WINCHESTER Science Centre has announced that its evening events are returning with a bang for the autumn and winter.

A mix of family and adult-only events will take place throughout the dark months from monthly outdoor stargazing at Night Sky Live (October to March) to the spooktacular Science Explained: Not So Creepy Critters on Thursday, October 26 to the adults-only Halloween horror movie-themed Science Lates on Friday, October 6.

Families are invited to head outside the centre at Morn Hill into the South Downs National Park to discover the stars and planets of the night sky with Night Sky Live.

Hampshire Chronicle: Night Sky Live will return from October to MarchNight Sky Live will return from October to March (Image: Winchester Science Centre)Visitors will start their adventure in the Planetarium where they’ll learn the skills needed to identify what’s up in the sky. Armed with knowledge, families will then follow the stargazing host out into the South Downs National Park – an international dark sky reserve, where they can observe the stars, constellations and planets.

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Taking place on Thursday, October 26, Science Explained: Not So Creepy Critters invites families to discover the curious and creepy truth behind the animals associated with Halloween.

Visitors will join animal encounter experts, ZooLab, for creature interactions and a live talk. Families can get hands on with snakes, lizards and tarantulas and discover more about snake venoms, explore the science of scales and find out about fangs and claws. There’ll also be time to explore the two floors of hands-on exhibits.

Meanwhile, older visitors are invited to Science Lates: Horror Movies where they can experience live blood-curdling talks where blood squib and spatter demos will bring to life the science behind some iconic horror movie moments from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Exorcist.

Live make-up tutorials will reveal the tricks used to create realistic-looking wounds and zombie bites and special effects science demos, such as the dry ice cannon and puking pumpkins, will show how iconic scenes from the movies have a background in science.

Hampshire Chronicle: The adult-only Science Lates events will bring the science behind horror films to lifeThe adult-only Science Lates events will bring the science behind horror films to life (Image: Winchester Science Centre)SEE ALSO: Historical railway to host annual steam gala in October

Horror fans can also enter the darkness of the Planetarium where spooky soundscapes will echo around the dome.

Visitors can also head to the Science Theatre for the Lates Challenge which this month is building your very own hovercraft and seeing how far it will travel.

There will also be a silent disco, board game café and horror movie-themed cocktails at the bar.

More information about these events can be found on the Winchester Science Centre website.