Stargazers will have an experience to remember when Mill Hill Observatory holds an open evening on March 15.

The observatory in Watford Way is part of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at University College London and will be open to the public.

Dr Mike Dworetsky, director of the observatory, hopes Jupiter and Saturn will be on show in the evening skies.

"This is the only public event of the year when we are able to let the public view through the Radcliffe twin refracting telescope, one of the largest telescopes in England, as well as our smaller telescopes," he said.

"But there will be several groups being guided around the observatory at any one time and there is plenty to see and do in the event that the weather is not favourable," he added.

Tours, which cost £5, run from 6.40pm to 8.20pm and admission is by ticket only. For more information call the observatory on 020 8959 0421 from 9.30am until 1pm, Monday to Friday.

Those unable to obtain tickets will be offered a place in a regular Friday evening observatory tour group later this year.