Don't give up go, for the astronaut bit. Guess around Chesterfield, so maybe a bit too far for the East Midland Stargazers. Meteors: Keep an eye out on May 24, reports that we may pass through recent comet debris, so might (just might) be something. Aurora, best I can suggest is the Norwegian ferry service Hurtigruten that goes up and down the coast. Decide what you want from a scope, the budget stated will get you a lot of scope, but a lot of scope may not be the best. I might suggest a nice 80-100mm refractor and an iOptron cube. Getting a big scope that you do not or cannot use is a waste. About 100 mile south of you, Leamington Spa, in early June is the IAS, lots and lots of scopes there to look at.