Welcome to The Observatory Science Centre

Spectacular Science

5.30pm-9.30pm: Join us for a fabulous family afternoon/early evening event. Enjoy all the exhibits indoors and outside and immerse yourself in an 'out of this world' experience in a fantastic planetarium show.

Saturday 6 July: Adults Exclusive Summer Special; Quiz Night & Stargazing Evening. After a social fun packed evening of quizzing, group tours will take you around the domes to view through our historic telescopes (weather permitting) and meet our knowledgeable Astronomers.

Tuesday 30 July: Half day workshops for age 9-11 years. Oh no a crime has been committed and we need your help to assist with an investigation!

Wednesday 31 July: Half day workshops for either ages 6-8 years or 9-11 years. How does such a huge rocket actually get off the ground? Why does it "break up" and where do the astronauts sit? Come and find out in this fascinating and fabulously fun workshop and you even get to build and launch your own water rocket.

6 August: Half day workshop for 6-8 year olds. We see our beautiful planet in millions of colours. Join us in a journey of discovery through experiments and science fun to observe how eyes can see in different ways and why. 

7 August: Half day workshops for ages 6-8 and 9-11 years. Our Solar System is sensational! Every planet is different; hot, cold, solid or made of gas or ice. Why are they so different? What makes Earth look so blue and Mars look so red? What else is in the solar system? How big is it? Come and find out with some amazing activities. Can we land on the planets? Design and make a spacecraft to land an egg safely on the surface of another planet like Mars. You never know astronauts may go there one day.

Come and enjoy the fabulous atmosphere that surrounds the Observatory at night and, weather permitting look through some of the largest telescopes in the country at some extraordinary night sky objects. Don't worry if it is cloudy we have a cloudy night contingency.

10 August 2024. As Earth passes through the debris trail left behind by comet Swift-Tuttle, particles of space dust enter the atmosphere leaving a trail of light behind; a shooting star. Join us for an informative talk to learn more about this fascinating yearly event. If the weather is good you will also have the opportunity to view through the historic telescopes.

13 August: Half day workshops for 6-8 years and 9-11 years. The body is amazing! From your brain to your big toe there is so much stuff packed in that keeps us alive. How does it all work together? Come and find out on this journey from your head to your heels and all the bits in between.

Tuesday 20 August: Full day workshop for 6-8 years old. Find out what makes things fizz, bang and pop in some crazy chemistry experiments. It's full on fun and you get to try the experiments yourself as well as watching some pretty spectacular demonstrations.

Wednesday 21 August: Full day workshop for age 9-11 years. Chemistry is definitely fun, especially when trying to find out what goes with a bang! Come and try some fabulous chemistry experiments and see some spectacular demonstrations.

August 30 & 31 and September 1 2024: Whether just for a day or for the whole weekend come and join us and soak up the fantastic atmosphere of our fabulous Science Centre and Observatory. Lots of fun for families and keen astronomers alike!

This course will be teaching practical aspects of night sky photography through lectures and demonstrations. You do not need to bring cameras, tripods or telescopes just listen and learn and take away all the essential information you will need to start you on your fascinating journey into night sky photography. Image courtesy of John Fox. Spring and Autumn dates are available.

A fantastic opportunity to learn how to navigate your way around the night sky using the constellations as your guide. Taught in one of our domes under the backdrop of a historic telescope and outside under the stars, you will learn how to recognise star patterns and find out more about the mythologies behind them. Spring and Autumn dates are available.

This 4 week course is a basic introduction to astronomy. It is aimed at beginners in astronomy and approaches the subject in a practical way; helping you visualise the wonders of our solar system and beyond.

This course is a mix of classroom based teaching in one of the domes and practical hands-on teaching outdoors so you can learn how to use your telescope. Members of local Astronomy Societies will guide you through setting up your telescope and getting the best out of it. Weather permitting they will also start you on your way to viewing the night sky. Spring and Autumn dates available.

16 November 2024. The debris left behind by the comet Tempel-Tuttle gives rise to the Leonids meteor shower and the debris trail left behind by comet Encke gives rise to the Taurid meteor shower. Join us for an informative talk before heading out to try and spot some meteors (shooting stars). If the weather is good you will also have an opportunity to look through an historic telescope; we have some of the largest working telescopes in the country.