Well, what can I say - everything just slid into place.
I had been given a voucher for Kielder Observatory some time ago which (with some date jiggling on the calendar) finally got used back in June to book a place this December - the 18th to be precise.
So with a bed for the night sorted I headed for Kielder for my 11pm to 2am slot. It was a crisp, clear, moon lit and very still evening.
Nicely greated by a staff member at the gate to the track (which incidentally had literally just been cleared that week by Forestry England due to the damage left by storm Arwen.) I headed up.
Anyone who's been to this part of Britain will know how stunning it is here and the small drive up the track to the observatory just heightens this feeling. The trees and track glistened with a hard frost.
On arrival we were greated in the car park and taken to an ante room for an introduction. The night was arranged into 4 stages all with very experienced, knowledgeable (and excited) staff talking along the way:
(1) Intoduction to the night sky with hands-on using two SkyWatcher 12in Dobsonians on the observing deck accompanied by a hot drink
(2) Into the main building to the first turret which houses a 16in Schmidt-Cassegrain Meade LX200
(3) Into the Sir Patrick Moore observatory to use the 16in Ritchey-Chrétien
(4) A talk and image presentation
One of the great things about it here is that you can get "stuck-in" with no fear of staff giving you a scroll of do's and don'ts that could really put you off. They definately have the right attitude.
Even though the moon was full, the evening was superb to view constellations and did not detract from the fact that this is one hell of a location.
I will definately be going back (hopefully with some kind of portable rig).
https://kielderobservatory.org/
Clear skies
MJ
Just spectacular.
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