FAQs 20
We run about 700 public events at the observatory each year which means we are open for our visitors almost every night of the year. Our observatory events cater for all levels of knowledge and for all ages from 6 to 106.
Our Main Evening Events run each night about 8pm for three hours and include a tour of the observatory and a main presentation which will be about 40 minutes. The title of these events refers to the theme of this talk, so we cover topics as diverse as the aurora, one of our most popular nights, through to specific themed planet nights, such as our ever popular Jupiter and Saturn evenings. We will spend as much time as possible using the fantastic array of telescopes we have on site to observe the cosmos. These events are usually in full darkness to maximise time on the telescopes, but during the summer months will be partial daylight and guests may enjoy summer sights such as beautiful sunsets and enigmatic noctilucent clouds. Our Weekend Late Night events have the same format as the main events, but are in the late night slots of Fridays, Saturdays and some Thursdays. These events are our premium events so have limited guest numbers and have other perks. We also run family events such as Young Explorers and Space Kids, and special events such as Relaxed Astronomy to make sure there is something for everyone. Please note we are only open to the public for the events listed on the calendar and we are very limited on space, so you need to have a ticket purchased in advance to attend.
Membership 4
KOAS is a charitable organisation whose aims are as follows:
- To promote interest in the science of astronomy amongst the general public
- To facilitate education of members of the public in the science of astronomy
- To maintain an astronomical observatory in Kielder Forest to support the above aims
Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society Membership Scheme
The observatory first started staging public events in 2008. Since then the popularity of the facility has grown enormously to the extent that there are now in excess of 50 events each month, and over 20,000 people visit the observatory each year. Recently the observatory has received a great deal of national and international publicity, which has resulted in many events, particularly those at weekends being sold out far in advance.
In light of this success, KOAS is now actively planning the expansion of the observatory to cater for the growing demand.
Staff 3
Careers 3
Latest News 75
Lots of exciting things are happening at Kielder Observatory, use this page to browse the latest stories. We’ll have updates on the events we run, fantastic images our team have taken up at the observatory and occasionally science updates that our team would like to share!
We also release quarterly newsletters via email, sign up to our mailing list and view our archive of past newsletters here:
Meet The Team 14
Kielder Observatory wouldn’t be what it is today without its expert, enthusiastic team. Due to continued success we are happy to say the team is getting bigger as we bring more talent on board, please take a look below to see everyone’s profiles. You’ll probably recognise some of us during your visit to the Observatory! In addition to the permanent team, we are grateful to our large team of volunteers and our casual staff who support our work.
Escape Velocity Online Exhibition, April 2021 7
Capturing starlight and objects deep in space with cameras always leads to exciting and inspiring images. We asked people young and old, to go out and explore astrophotography, using only their mobile phones. We received many wonderful submissions and have, after careful consideration, chosen a selection of photographs taken with mobile phones that tell a journey of astronomy. From stargazing to space exploration, from peering into the depths of the universe and capturing the split second passing of a meteor, we are thrilled to present this online exhibition of mobile astrophotography.
Thank you to everybody who went out under dark skies to try mobile astrophotography, and who participated in our online workshop. We hope you enjoy viewing these submissions, in celebration of our dark skies and of the brilliance of our universe. If you are inspired to go out and do some mobile astrophotography, we'd love to see your images in the future! The aim of this project was always to encourage people to explore astrophotography with modern technology, as a means to accessing astronomy and science in a new and different way.
Each submission is created in an easily downloadable, shareable format. You can also download our Escape Velocity astrophotography guide as used in the project here:
Escape Velocity Photography Guide.pdf
With thanks to Northumberland County Council - funding from the Northumberland Cultural Fund made this possible!
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Trustees 1
Kielder Observatory Arts and Culture Programme 7
There is something subliminal about looking upon the night sky. Whether you are young or old, whether formally educated or not, alone or with loved ones, stargazing, astronomy, and the universe are captivating. Though science offers us fundamental answers to questions about the stars and shows beauty in the theories and methods it employs, it has a less tenuous hold on how the universe makes us feel. Here, art provides a fusion point, catalysing the human experience of astronomy and science and offering a new avenue of exploration.
Expression of science and astronomy through art and culture has implications for engagement with and uptake of STEM subjects for children and adults alike. By providing a variety in accessibility and sources of inspiration, artistic and cultural works reach those who may otherwise go through life without exploring astronomy. And this is the core ethos of Kielder Observatory; to inspire as many people as we can.
The Arts and Culture Programme developed by the observatory is therefore a rapidly progressing part of how we seek to inspire people of all ages. We’ve had multiple great successes, and lots still in the pipeline. Our projects have included everything from thematic workshops both online and in person, to exhibitions and collaboration with artists. Our work would not be possible without the backing of our funders, which have included the Northumberland County Council, Arts Council England, and the Heritage Lottery fund - thank you all very much for helping us make these projects possible. You can read below about some of our previous projects!
Annual reviews and reports 7
Use the buttons below to download our recent annual reviews and reports. See highlights from the year, updates on our projects and highlights from our customer feedback.
Look Up 44
This anthology contains a collection of creative writing by residents at HMP Northumberland. Written during Novus education sessions with writer Bridget Hamilton in response to astronomy content provided by Kielder Observatory and exploring work by poets such as Tracy K Smith and Robert Wrigley.
Space provides infinite inspiration to the human mind, and gazing up in to the night sky is a window to these possibilities. Kielder Observatory's goal is to share the awe and insight that learning about the universe can bring to everyone’s lives. Aligning astronomy and education offers numerous benefits, particularly inspiring wonder and curiosity: astronomy, with its vastness and mysteries of the universe, has the power to captivate and inspire all learners, in different ways.
With thanks to The Joicey Trust who funded the project and our partners Novus and all the staff at HMP Northumberland who helped facilitate. The poem "Taking the Stars Inside" is by Bridget to reflect on the project, with thanks to all the learners who participated. Imagery provided by the team at Kielder Observatory, with constellations designed by Bridget.
Places to stay new 46
Places to stay
In and around the Kielder Water and Forest Park, there is a range of superb visitor accommodation facilities. These offer comfortable accommodation under some of the darkest skies in the whole of Europe, and many are classed as "Dark Sky Friendly". The accommodation providers below range from cosy cottages to glamping pods, campsites to hotels and everything in betwen. Some are situated within 10 minutes of Kielder Observatory, whilst others are further afield and may suit your holiday needs if you're looking to explore wider Northumberland or the North East.
Kielder Observatory is proud to provide links to many of these facilities and hope that if you are visiting us, you can also grace them with your time and company. If you are a local provider of such accommodation then please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll endeavour to add you to this list.
For a more comprehensive search of accommodation providers, places to eat and things to do see the Visit Kielder website.
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Our reviews are out of this world...
Blog 5
Events 4
About 5
Our Observatory 1
Our Observatory
Kielder Observatory is a public outreach astronomical facility located in Kielder Forest, in some of the darkest skies in Europe and the third largest protected Dark Sky reserve in the world.
Located in Northumberland, England. It is situated just half a mile from the Scottish border on Black Fell near James Turrell’s Kielder Skyspace. The site was chosen as one of the locations in the UK which has the least amount of intrusive light pollution.
The primary function of the observatory is outreach via public events. The goal being to bring in members of the public of all ages from school children in primary school, and upward. The aim being to engage in discussions and observations of the Universe. We to do this in a way that is friendly, informative and interesting, through our amazing team of astronomers, guest speakers and volunteers.
The observatory hosts upwards of 40 of these amazing events every month, designed for members of the public. Since its opening in 2008, the observatory has played host to tens of thousands of people to observe and engage with the night sky, via talks, activities and telescope observing sessions.
Our History 6
Our History
Kielder Observatory was opened in March 2008. The vision of its original director Gary Fildes, the Observatory was opened by the former Astronomer Royal Sir Arnold Wolfendale, and now has a world class reputation for astronomical outreach under one of the best dark sky sites in all of Europe.
Originally envisaged in 2008 to host a few dozen events a year, Kielder now hosts over 700 events a year and its popularity means events are regularly booked well in advance.
Below are some highlights of our journey.
About Kielder Forest 4
About Kielder Forest
Kielder Water and Forest Park encompasses over 230 square miles of some of the most spectacular scenery in the United Kingdom. Home to a variety of outdoor pursuit camps and activity centres, the Forest is home to the Kielder Observatory, in Europe’s second largest dark sky protected reserve.
The forest itself produces 25% of England’s domestically grown timber, is home to over 50% of all England’s red squirrels and counts a multitude of deer, wild goats, goshawks and buzzards amongst its natural residents.
But more to the point, it’s got some of the nation’s least light polluted skies! Small telescopes seem to swell in aperture as tough targets glow against an inky backdrop. Objects such as Messier 33, a galaxy deemed by many to be invisible to the naked eye, can be clearly seen from the Observatory site on moonless nights.
Dark Skies 1
Dark Skies
At nearly 580 square miles, our dark sky zone, known as Northumberland and Kielder Water and Forest International Dark Sky Park, is the second largest area of protected night sky in Europe, and achieved this status thanks to the International Dark Skies Association, the leading international organisation working to combat light pollution worldwide. Becoming a Dark Sky Park means that our night skies will be kept free from light pollution and we can create more opportunities for people to be inspired by the stars. If you'd like to get involved in conserving our dark skies click here.
It is estimated that 85% of the UK population has never seen a truly dark sky or experienced the sense of wonder that a clear night filled with billions of stars can give! Here at Kielder, the skies can be so dark that the Milky Way and even the planet Jupiter can cast shadows, a phenomenon many have never seen. The CPRE ranks Kielder as the best place to see the stars in the UK.
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Event Information 6
Event Information
Our events run throughout the year and range from topics as diverse as the Aurora, one of our most popular nights, through to Space Kids, introductions to Astronomy, and even such topics as gravitational waves. We also feature comets, asteroids as well as observing fascinating deep sky objects such as globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies. The range and diversity of our talks and topics means that we regularly have multiple return visits from guests keen to gain a greater understanding of the vast and beautiful Universe.
Our presentations incorporate video and animations to appeal to younger visitors (and older ones too!), no matter which event you choose to attend our primary goal is always to give you as much time at the telescopes that our Great British weather allows!
What time to arrive?
The Observatory opens 10-15 minutes before the event begins. There is unfortunately no waiting area inside the Observatory. Visitors are welcome to walk around on our Observatory deck prior to events starting or wait in the nearby car park until this time.
About our events
Our Observatory events cater for all levels of knowledge and for all ages from 4 to 104. No question is too silly, no question too complex, we're happy to discuss everything from high level cosmology through to why the sky is blue. Our team of dedicated volunteers and astronomers love to be asked questions, and we actively encourage it throughout our events. We aim to deliver science from the ground up... if you want more, just ask!
If you have booked for an event, then we will have your details. Please print out your email confirming your booking and bring this with you where possible, or a copy of the reminder message we will email to you. If you have neither, please don't panic, as we will be able to confirm your details at the door as well.
Weather and refunds
We regret to say that once booked, all tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. All events go ahead regardless of the weather unless weather conditions prevent access to the observatory. We never take the decison to cancel lightly but if we do have to cancel an event we will notify you via email, text and phone call and offer you the choice of either a full refund or a voucher to rebook. We will contact you by the number and email address you've given us when you booked so make sure you're available on the day to take our call. We will also update our Facebook page and also notify people via Twitter to let you know if an event is cancelled. If you have any doubts as to whether an event will proceed, please check via our social media channels.
What to bring with you
Ideally your booking reference email printed out or on your smartphone. if you don't have this, we will still be able to validate your booking at the door with your name and mobile phone no.
Warm clothes. The Observatory is located in a remote part of Northumberland and it gets very cold. Do not underestimate how cold you might get – bring your warmest clothing and footwear.
Suitable torches. Red light or red light filtered torches are a must, for getting around under our exceptionally dark skies.
For refreshments, the Observatory has a tuck shop selling hot drinks and astronomically themed snacks (Mars Bars, Milky Ways...). Occasionally our talented volunteers bake cakes which sell out faster than the Universe expands. Just one thing to remember, we make the best hot chocolate you have ever tasted... one not to miss! If you have a lactose or other intolerance, please let our staff know prior to ordering any refreshments, and we will endeavour to cater for you as best we can.
An open mind... your imagination is the only limit to what you will discover at Kielder Observatory.
Parking
Parking is provided at the Observatory during events so please drive all the way up the track to the Observatory car park, which is less than two minutes walk from the Observatory building. The track will be open around 30 minutes before the event starts at the latest, if you arrive to find the gate locked please wait in the nearby car park for a member of staff. Visitors with wheelchair or other accessibility requirements are welcome to park outside the front of the Observatory.
Dogs
We regret that no dogs apart from guide or special needs dogs are allowed on the observatory site.
Concessions
Our events booking page has options for concession tickets. Concessions are defined as follows:
- People with accessibility difficulties (e.g., wheelchair users) or who are registered disabled.
- People who are aged 65+
- People under 16 years of age
- Children under the age of three are free if carried in person or in a sling.
The concessionary rate is applicable for all children in a pram or pushchair due to the limited space available (we would advise parents that events are in a relatively small classroom for 36 persons, and can last up to 45 minutes to1 hour between breaks, we have no dedicated baby change facility at this time).
Event availability
If you go on our events page and select a date you'd like to visit, and find that you cannot book, it usually means that the event is sold out. The best option in case is to have a look at similar events around the same period. However, it is not unusual for the Observatory to be fully booked up to 3 months in advance of an event date, so, we do recommend if you are looking to come, to book as early as possible. We do not formally operate a waiting list, but if tickets do become available for events we will announce it via social media using our Twitter page, so if you have expressed an interest in obtaining tickets for a sold out event, please follow us here to get the latest information.
Private events
If you wish to book a private event, please email us via the contact us page, and we will try to schedule in a free date for your party or private event.
If you have any additional questions you can contact us and we will endeavour to answer as soon as we can or call our office (open during normal office hours) on 0191 265 5510.
Places to stay 1
Places to stay
In and around the Kielder Water and Forest Park, there is a range of superb visitor accommodation facilities. These offer comfortable accommodation under some of the darkest skies in the whole of Europe, and many are classed as "Dark Sky Friendly". The area is quite remote which adds to the beauty of the landscape, but does mean some driving is involved; all accomodation in our list below is within 40 minutes' driving time. Kielder Observatory is proud to provide links to many of these facilities and hope that if you are visiting us, you can also grace them with your time and company. If you are a local provider of such accommodation then please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll endeavour to add you to this list.
For a more comprehensive search of accommodation providers, places to eat and things to do see the Visit Kielder website.
Volunteering 2
Volunteering
The running of Kielder Observatory is only possible due to the amazing support we have from a group of passionate and dedicated volunteers.
Our science team consists of 10 astronomers who, along with our visiting scientists, manage the events at the Observatory. We have an administration and operations management team based in our offices in Newcastle. The rest of the staff you will meet at the Observatory are volunteers.
