Kielder Observatory is one of the most remarkable places to visit in the whole of the UK, a public astronomical observatory which is second to none. Here you'll find "infinite inspiration" and wonders you could never have imagined under some of the darkest skies in the world.
Kielder Observatory is one of the most inspiring places to visit in the UK—a public astronomical observatory and educational charity where unforgettable memories are made beneath the stars.
Experience wonders beyond imagination against the awe-inspiring backdrop of Europe’s largest Gold-Tier International Dark Sky Park. Whether you’re a first-time stargazer or a seasoned astronomer, our dedicated team promises moments that last a lifetime.
Looking to visit as soon as possible? Check out our events with last minute availability below.
Welcome to the Light Year Academy! This event is designed to set you off on your journey to becoming an astronomer, by combining all our Space Kids events into one fun-filled event. Starting with our solar system, we will learn more about why our own planet experiences changes like the seasons and explore the planets whilst making a smaller, to-scale version of our solar system using inflatable planets. Then, there will be a tour of the observatory where each room will contain a different activity and something new to learn. In our largest observing room, you will be able to see our telescopes and understand how they work using some lasers and differently shaped glass to demonstrate what happens to the light entering a telescope. You may even operate them yourself. If the sun is shining, we can safely observe the sun and perhaps some stars. In another room, you will detect the different, invisible types of light that exist around us every day and show you why astronomers use them to show us more of the universe. At the beginning of this activity, you will watch as our radio telescope moves into place to take a picture of the Sun in radio waves and at the end you will be shown what it captured. The last stop is our space rock collection. After learning more about comets, asteroids, and meteorites and where they come from, you will be able to take a closer look at some real pieces of rock from space. These rocks will be the oldest things you will ever touch, and you will even be able to touch the moon. But look closely! Some normal rocks will be added to our collection, and you must identify which ones are from space and which aren’t. Now, here comes the really fun bit. To finish, we are going to talk about space exploration, where astronauts are sent and how they get up there. Then, you will be making your very own rocket that we will fill with air and launch as high as we can go. Prepare to count down, pull the trigger and watch as your rocket shoots into the air! At the end of your event, you will receive a certificate to certify that you graduated from the Light Year Academy, as well as some other goodies. You will also be given the opportunity to roam around the observatory one last time, peruse the gift shop and ask our astronomers any questions. Join us for a jam-packed evening of activities and come away inspired to learn more about our universe. ...
Tickets
From £22.50 per person
Next available event
Saturday 5th July
Each individual member of the Kielder science team shares the combined passion for astronomy, however their favourite parts differ, sometimes dramatically! Tonight they will share with you their passion and guide you through their favourite things to do, see or discover. Let us guide you around the night sky, exploring seasonal differences and highlighting the jewels of the universe you can see around that time. If the weather isn't on our side, we'll use our digital simulation software to give you a full tour of the night sky, where we can even travel through time to show what you may see in the coming weeks or months. When observing, depending on conditions and the lunar calendar we can show you planets, star clusters and even galaxies, the brightest of which can be seen with the naked eye from our observation deck. We may even catch a glimpse of the International Space Station as it flies across the sky! During the evening you will be treated to a hot drink of either tea, coffee or our famous hot chocolate as well as having the opportunity to support our charity further by taking home a memento of your visit to the observatory from our gift shop In the summer months we lose the darkness so we turn our attention to the brighter objects that are visible, such as craters on the moon, star clusters and atmospheric phenomena like night shining clouds, known as noctilucent clouds… Although star-gazing is the priority on all our events, our aim is to deliver a fantastic experience whatever the weather with the help of our team of experienced and passionate astronomers....
Tickets
From £28.50 per person
Next available event
Sunday 6th July
Our Relaxed Astronomy events are designed specifically for those that may need a calmer and more flexible environment in which to learn. These events will inspire you in a safe, relaxed and unrestricted environment with quieter shows, smaller groups (max of 20 guests), safe clapping and a choice on how you choose to experience the wonders of the universe. Our red lighting will always remain on as you move around the building, brighter interior white lighting may be used in some of the rooms, our trained staff will be on hand to guide you around every aspect of your visit. The event is much less structured than our other events. There will be a short introduction to the Observatory (15 mins), after which you will get to visit our observation turrets. If weather permits and we can observe, our Astronomers will invite you to look through one of our large aperture telescopes. You will also get to discover other interactive sessions which you can dip in and out of, such as; virtual navigation of the Night Sky with handheld tablets, discover pieces of our solar system in a hands-on meteorite activity. All stations will be set up around the observatory and you will be free to roam around, get involved with the activities as you like and absorb it all in your own way. A breakout space will be provided away from activities if required. Our Observatory is designed to make your experience, an engaging, educational time, so please do feel free to ask questions and take part in as much as you can to maximise your visit. We continue to take into account the impact of Covid-19 for our visitors and work hard to ensure you feel comfortable and safe during your event. At times our astronomers may talk to the group as a whole, it’s important that you feel comfortable throughout our event so talking and movement is welcome throughout, you’re never required to sit in silence for a long period of time. Doors will open 20 mins before the beginning of the event, so you are welcome to enter and familiarise yourself with the area prior to the start time. We hope these events will be helpful to those with sensory sensitivity....
Tickets
From £28.50 per person
Next available event
Monday 7th July
Our reviews are out of this world...
Kielder Observatory is a charity that exists to inspire, enthuse and educate the public about the wonders of the universe. Donating to us will help us reach more people and support their interest in astronomy. Your gift will help fund our work in schools, in the arts, our citizen science projects, getting out and about in the community and, of course, the work we do at the Observatory itself.
Lots of exciting things are happening at Kielder Observatory, use this page to browse the latest stories.
Discover how Kielder Observatory's stunning astrophotography helped shape the haunting beauty of 28 Years Later, the latest blockbuster from Danny...
Read Time
3 minutes
As the long summer evenings slowly give way to darker skies, July offers a perfect opportunity to reconnect with the...
Read Time
4 minutes
Ever wondered how astronomers can casually claim that the sun is 5 billion years old or that the universe is...
Read Time
11 minutes
Purchase some of the incredible photographs taken from Kielder Observatory.
This picture was taken in the late Autumn of 2014, taken through the telescope with a DSLR camera....
£25.00
The lunar eclipse on 21st January 2019 was an unforgettable sight. The whole observatory team stayed up until 6am to capture images of this amazing cosmic coincidence. A lunar eclipse is when the Earth is perfectly lined up in between the Sun and Moon. Earth’s shadow sweeps across the lunar surfaces causing the Moon to turn blood red....
£25.00
This was taken on a moonlit night to keep the observatory illuminated, the image is created by stacking a number of shots taken over a long period of time. This was shot using a 14mm lens, with 25 second exposures for 30 minutes. We can see how the stars appear to trail around one central point, our North Star (Polaris), as the Earth spins on its axis and Polaris stays still in its position directly above the North Pole....
£25.00
The clearest of skies allow for this amazing 'star trails' image, the rotating earth allows for these beautiful shapes and patterns to develop. Our eyes can never see the passage of time like this but the camera can....
£25.00
Our workshops and talks are the perfect educational visit to broaden your knowledge!
Our Relaxed Astronomy events are designed specifically for those that may need a calmer and more flexible environment in which to learn. These events will inspire you in a safe, relaxed and unrestricted environment with quieter shows, smaller groups (max of 20 guests), safe clapping and a choice on how you choose to experience the wonders of the universe. Our red lighting will always remain on as you move around the building, brighter interior white lighting may be used in some of the rooms, our trained staff will be on hand to guide you around every aspect of your visit. The event is much less structured than our other events. There will be a short introduction to the Observatory (15 mins), after which you will get to visit our observation turrets. If weather permits and we can observe, our Astronomers will invite you to look through one of our large aperture telescopes. You will also get to discover other interactive sessions which you can dip in and out of, such as; virtual navigation of the Night Sky with handheld tablets, discover pieces of our solar system in a hands-on meteorite activity. All stations will be set up around the observatory and you will be free to roam around, get involved with the activities as you like and absorb it all in your own way. A breakout space will be provided away from activities if required. Our Observatory is designed to make your experience, an engaging, educational time, so please do feel free to ask questions and take part in as much as you can to maximise your visit. We continue to take into account the impact of Covid-19 for our visitors and work hard to ensure you feel comfortable and safe during your event. At times our astronomers may talk to the group as a whole, it’s important that you feel comfortable throughout our event so talking and movement is welcome throughout, you’re never required to sit in silence for a long period of time. Doors will open 20 mins before the beginning of the event, so you are welcome to enter and familiarise yourself with the area prior to the start time. We hope these events will be helpful to those with sensory sensitivity....
Tickets
From £35.00 per person
Next available event
Monday 7th July
Our Relaxed Astronomy events are designed specifically for those that may need a calmer and more flexible environment in which to learn. These events will inspire you in a safe, relaxed and unrestricted environment with quieter shows, smaller groups (max of 20 guests), safe clapping and a choice on how you choose to experience the wonders of the universe. Our red lighting will always remain on as you move around the building, brighter interior white lighting may be used in some of the rooms, our trained staff will be on hand to guide you around every aspect of your visit. The event is much less structured than our other events. There will be a short introduction to the Observatory (15 mins), after which you will get to visit our observation turrets. If weather permits and we can observe, our Astronomers will invite you to look through one of our large aperture telescopes. You will also get to discover other interactive sessions which you can dip in and out of, such as; virtual navigation of the Night Sky with handheld tablets, discover pieces of our solar system in a hands-on meteorite activity. All stations will be set up around the observatory and you will be free to roam around, get involved with the activities as you like and absorb it all in your own way. A breakout space will be provided away from activities if required. Our Observatory is designed to make your experience, an engaging, educational time, so please do feel free to ask questions and take part in as much as you can to maximise your visit. We continue to take into account the impact of Covid-19 for our visitors and work hard to ensure you feel comfortable and safe during your event. At times our astronomers may talk to the group as a whole, it’s important that you feel comfortable throughout our event so talking and movement is welcome throughout, you’re never required to sit in silence for a long period of time. Doors will open 20 mins before the beginning of the event, so you are welcome to enter and familiarise yourself with the area prior to the start time. We hope these events will be helpful to those with sensory sensitivity....
Tickets
From £35.00 per person
Next available event
Monday 4th August
Private Events
Travel through the cosmos as we bring the wonder of the dark skies to you with our inflatable planetarium. Perfect for a group setting, our astronomers will guide you across the universe with these impressive shows...
Private Events
From meteorites to space exploration, planets to satellites and everything in between, our astronomer-lead workshops are the perfect way to engage with science and astronomy for schools and community groups. With practical hand-on learning, guided by an expert astronomer there is no better way to get to grips with astronomy...
The official monthly podcast from Kielder Observatory. If you've ever wondered what happens when you fall into a black hole, if intelligent life is watching us from other galaxies, or how the North East is at the forefront of the British Space programme, then you can find out more in this series!
Each month we also update you on the things to look out for in the night.
