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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!
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What is a Lunar Eclipse
Lunar eclipses are fascinating, beautiful celestial events. Read more to find out how they happen and how to see them.
Lunar eclipses are fascinating, beautiful celestial events. Read more to find out how they happen and how to see them.
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What is a Lunar Eclipse
By Naz Jahanshahi
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth perfectly aligns itself between the Sun and the Moon, obstructing the light from the Sun and stopping it from lighting up the Moon’s surface. As the Moon begins to enter Earth’s shadow, its face begins to darken more and more until the Sun is completely hidden by the Earth. At this stage, the Moon enters the Earth’s umbra – the darkest part of the Earth’s shadow – and takes on a reddish hue. The red light reflecting on the Moon’s surface during the total eclipse phase is due to the light from the Sun passing through the Earth's atmosphere at the edges of our planet and being bent towards the Moon. This can be better understood if we think about it as if we are seeing the light from all of the sunrises and sunsets on Earth reflecting off the lunar surface.
So, what is a partial or a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse?
A partial lunar eclipse or a penumbral lunar eclipse takes place when the Sun, Earth and Moon do not perfectly align. A partial lunar eclipse happens when the Moon only passes through a small part of the Earth’s umbra, therefore only a fraction of the Moon will appear red. However, a penumbral lunar eclipse is different. Sometimes, the Moon only passes into the Earth’s penumbra, the dimmer part of Earth’s shadow that exists around the umbra. Some parts of the Moon’s surface will appear darker, but penumbral lunar eclipses are far less apparent.
What is the duration of a Lunar Eclipse?
The duration of a total lunar eclipse can be up to a couple of hours. Add on the time it takes for the Earth and the Moon to perfectly align, the whole event can go on for quite a while. Plenty of opportunity to set up cameras or telescopes, or to give the clouds a chance to shift!
When can I see a Lunar Eclipse?
Being able to see a lunar eclipse depends on your location and where the moon is in the sky at that location when it is occurring. If your location is on the daytime side of the planet when the event is taking place, then it will not be possible to see it. This means we can see some lunar eclipses from the UK, but not all. Visit timeanddate.com/eclipse/ and enter your location to see a list of all of the visible lunar and solar eclipses from where you are. The next lunar eclipse that will be visible from the UK will happen in the very early morning hours of May 16th. It begins at around 2:30am (may differ by a few minutes for different parts of the UK) when the Moon will begin to enter the Earth’s penumbra. The moon will begin to enter the umbra and start to look red around 3:30am. A total lunar eclipse will take place at 4:30am, when the Moon will look completely red. The Moon will be very close to the southwestern horizon when this happens, so an unobstructed view in this direction is essential. Finding a hill or a high point in your area is recommended. As the total lunar eclipse phase begins, the Moon may quickly become too faint to see at all, but the darkening of the moon before this happens is still a spectacular sight.
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Lunar eclipses are fascinating, beautiful celestial events. Read more to find out how they happen and how to see them.
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Hundreds of youngsters to benefit from STEM to Stars project
A project to inspire school children across the North East to reach for the stars and pursue careers in STEM has received funding to reach even more youngsters.
A project to inspire school children across the North East to reach for the stars and pursue careers in STEM has received funding to reach even more youngsters.
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STEM to Stars project supported by the Reece Foundation
Kielder Observatory, set in Kielder Water and Forest Park, in Northumberland, has secured a further grant from the Reece Foundation to send its astronomers into 45 more schools across the North East.
The children are formed into Kielder Star Groups and carry out science and engineering learning activities. The students are part of an observing group where they have an astronomer on call, remote tuition and mentoring.
Students who contribute the most to the groups have the opportunity to become Kielder Observatory Ambassadors where they receive extra tuition and work placements at Kielder. Further placements are then identified for some ambassadors at cutting edge companies or universities.
Catherine Johns, CEO of Kielder Observatory, said: “We’re delighted that once again the Reece Foundation has supported our STEM to Stars project, enabling even more young people to be inspired. We want children to make the direct link between STEM subjects at school and STEM career opportunities.
“We’re also looking forward to seeing participants become part of Kielder Constellations, an ongoing network of students, academics and business people who are, or who have been, part of the project.”
Zoe Carr, CEO, of WISE Academies, which will be taking part in the project said the schools were delighted to have been part of the pilot and were looking forward to students benefitting further.
She said: “Our young people thoroughly enjoyed working with the astronomers and their visit to the Kielder Observatory. In our end of project survey, around 60 per cent of students expressed they would be interested in pursuing a STEM related career. It’s fantastic that our primary aged pupils are becoming increasingly aware of the possibilities they have ahead of them through projects like this one.”
As part of the learning activities, the project will explore the Carrington Event and look at the innovation and engineering needed to build a more resilient world. The 1859 Carrington event, named after Richard Carrington, an observer at Durham University, was the most intense geomagnetic storm recorded in history which knocked out the fledgling telegraph system.
Added Catherine: “If something similar happened today it could be catastrophic, with satellites and power knocked out, bringing our world to a standstill. Exploring the effect of another Carrington allows us to use astronomy as a way to think about climate change, data science and engineering.”
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Frank's Fellowship
Applications have now opened for Frank's Fellowship bursary for young artists in Northumberland to be inspired by Kielder Observatory
Applications have now opened for Frank's Fellowship bursary for young artists in Northumberland to be inspired by Kielder Observatory
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Applications now open for Frank's Fellowship
Frank’s Fellowship will support young artists in Northumberland aged 14-18 to develop work inspired by Kielder Observatory. Each artist will receive a bursary of £250 plus access to Kielder Observatory to help with their work. We would encourage anyone eligible to apply and are keen to see the diversity of young artists the region has to offer. There are no restrictions on your artform, you do not need to be formally studying your preferred artform, and we’d actively encourage everyone from visual artists to musicians, dancers to digital artists and all those in between to apply!
It is established in memory of Frank Fortescue, who loved nothing more than being in the forest and loved the night sky.
Applicants must be between 14 and 18 and resident in any part of Northumberland. It is not required that they are studying art or design at school or college. The bursary can be used to cover materials, travel to Kielder and other expenses.
No outcome is necessarily expected - while the creation of work is welcomed, this is a development opportunity for young people to experience new inspiration for their artistic practice.
There will be two rounds for applicants, one in 2022 and one in 2023. To enter, all you have to do to apply is submit up to 300 words or a 2-minute video describing what this opportunity would mean to you. Successful applicants will be able to attend a Fellowship day at the Observatory, have access to Observatory events for themselves and a legal guardian (subject to ticket availability) and be connected to the Observatory's professional artist network.
To apply please complete our online form here. If you are under 18 years old a parent or guardian will need to sign the form too before submission. Applications close on Monday 25th April 2022.
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Applications have now opened for Frank's Fellowship bursary for young artists in Northumberland to be inspired by Kielder Observatory
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Kielder Observatory appoints new operations and marketing director
Hannah Matterson has joined the team at Kielder Observatory as the new operations and marketing director.
Hannah Matterson has joined the team at Kielder Observatory as the new operations and marketing director.
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Kielder Observatory appoints new operations and marketing director
Hannah Matterson has joined the team Kielder Observatory.
Hannah has worked in a variety of roles over the last ten years, including as CEO of music talent development agency generator, Innovation Partnerships Developer with Manchester Metropolitan University and as a fundraiser and development manager for a number of cultural organisations across the North East. Her career to date has been focused around building cross-sector partnerships, developing businesses and promoting greater access to the arts for many communities. She will continue to pursue those avenues with regard to STEM activity and support the whole team at Kielder Observatory.
Catherine Johns, CEO, of Kielder Observatory, said: “We’re delighted that someone with Hannah’s skills and experience has joined the team as we drive the development strategy forward. Hannah will be a valuable support to the charity as we continue to expand and reach out to more communities so they can experience the wonder of Kielder no matter where they are in the country.”
Hannah added: “I’m thrilled to have joined the team at Kielder Observatory. Astronomy is such a fascinating subject, one which I’m learning more about each day, and I can’t wait to put my knowledge and experience to good use to help the observatory further develop its offer to those across the North East and beyond.”
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Hannah Matterson has joined the team at Kielder Observatory as the new operations and marketing director.
)
Forestry England Partnership
Kielder Observatory and Forestry England have signed a partnership agreement which will increase opportunities for more dark sky tourism within the nation’s forests in Northumberland.
Kielder Observatory and Forestry England have signed a partnership agreement which will increase opportunities for more dark sky tourism within the nation’s forests in Northumberland.
[fulltext] =>
North East astro-tourism boosted by Forestry England partnership
Kielder Observatory and Forestry England have signed a partnership agreement which will increase opportunities for more dark sky tourism within the nation’s forests in Northumberland.
The two organisations will develop a joint inclusion strategy to open up astro-tourism to more diverse communities and create additional stargazing opportunities around Kielder Castle and the wider Kielder location. It will build on the current dark skies tourism offering which is worth more than £25m per year to Northumberland, generating around 450 jobs.
Staff at Forestry England recently helped clear the track to Kielder after a number of trees blocked entry to the site following the chaos caused by Storm Arwen. The observatory, which is set in the beautiful Kielder Water and Forest Park, in Northumberland, has seen its events sell out fast following the lifting of lockdown restrictions.
Catherine Johns, CEO, of Kielder Observatory, said: “Kielder has always been a hub for stargazers and the observatory has become a beacon location for that and has attracted a huge amount of visitors with sell out events consistently.
“Forests can provide excellent locations for public access to stargazing with minimal pollution from artificial light. The partnership with Forestry England will create a great opportunity to develop more stargazing events in Northumberland which will mean more visitors and more jobs.”
Forestry England is part of the Forestry Commission, responsible for managing and promoting the nation’s forests in England.
Kevin May, forestry management director, North Forest District said: “The nation’s forests provide some of the darkest skies in England and offer great opportunities for stargazing. This formalising of our partnership with Kielder Observatory will provide even greater opportunities to connect more people with the nation’s forests, through an inclusive and diverse outreach offer, providing fantastic experiences and educational opportunities.
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Kielder Observatory and Forestry England have signed a partnership agreement which will increase opportunities for more dark sky tourism within the nation’s forests in Northumberland.
)
New Spider Telescope Lands
A large 5 metre radio telescope has been added to the equipment at Kielder Observatory, thanks to the Tanlaw Foundation and Northumberland County Council.
A large 5 metre radio telescope has been added to the equipment at Kielder Observatory, thanks to the Tanlaw Foundation and Northumberland County Council.
[fulltext] =>
A VISITOR attraction under some of the finest dark skies in Europe has taken delivery of a new telescope which will boost space tourism in the North and make distance learning about the Universe possible.
The five-metre diameter Spider 500 radio telescope has been installed at Kielder Observatory, which is set in the beautiful Kielder Forest, in Northumberland.
Radio astronomy was responsible for the discovery of the Big Bang theory and, as it detects radio waves coming from space, it is weatherproof, which means observers are not reliant on clear skies.
Catherine Johns, CEO of Kielder Observatory, said the move into radio astronomy would allow Kielder to contribute to worldwide scientific research and attract university research into Northumberland as well as developing its remote outreach activities. It could also boost tourism in and around Northumberland by approximately £150,000 per year.
She said: “This investment will make a dramatic difference in our offering as it means people will be able to access the observatory remotely. A school child in Sunderland or Darlington, for example, will be able to experience Kielder without stepping foot here.
“We can use it for citizen science projects and engage a wide variety of audiences in STEM, inspiring and illuminating career pathways and providing student placements and apprenticeship opportunities. It’s an exciting time in the history of Kielder.”
The acquisition and installation of the telescopes was mostly funded by The Tanlaw Foundation and Northumberland County Council. The Tanlaw Foundation will use the telescope to reach a wider, hitherto excluded audience to observe the universe and create distance learning in astronomy, data science and astrobiology.
The observatory, which attracts thousands of visitors per year, has a team of astronomers, guest speakers and volunteers who discuss and make observations about the Universe through a series of public events.
A large 5 metre radio telescope has been added to the equipment at Kielder Observatory, thanks to the Tanlaw Foundation and Northumberland County Council.
)
Kielder Outdoor Event
Plans are underway to create a large-scale arts spectacular in Northumberland with professional performers cast alongside people from the local community.
Plans are underway to create a large-scale arts spectacular in Northumberland with professional performers cast alongside people from the local community.
[fulltext] =>
Huge Outdoor Arts Spectacular Planned for Kielder
Plans are underway to create a large-scale arts spectacular in Northumberland with professional performers cast alongside people from the local community.
Arts Council England has awarded research and development funding for the exciting project which will take advantage of the beautiful dark skies at Kielder Water and Forest Park.
The idea has already attracted two of the UK’s artistic leading lights, who will create a production which will bring to life the stories and histories of the communities in and near Kielder.
Robby Graham, an award-winning Choreographer and Artistic Director of North East based dance theatre company Southpaw, will lead the creative team. Robby specialises in creating large scale productions involving casts of hundreds and choreographed shows such as the acclaimed Angels in America at the National Theatre and Pericles, the National Theatre’s first public arts performance incorporating over 200 cast members.
Critically acclaimed composer, Will Todd, will join Robby and provide input around musical direction. Will’s recent work includes an oratorio for The Bach Choir written with former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen and operas for the Welsh National Opera and Opera North. His work is regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM.
The event will explore what the dark skies of Kielder mean to the people living in the North Tyne area create a digital legacy, with augmented reality experiences linked to the art and architecture installations around the Kielder Water and Forest Park.
The eight-strong artistic team will be carrying out research and development workshops in Kielder this winter, alongside technical investigative work, before looking to raise the tens of thousands of pounds needed to put on the spectacular next summer.
The project is the brainchild of Catherine Johns, CEO, of Kielder Observatory who said the concept originated from the observatory’s desire to work more closely with the communities in and around Kielder.
She said: “The act of sitting under the stars and telling stories and creating art has been part of human experience for as long as we know. With 85 per cent of the world’s population now living under light polluted skies, our dark skies are so precious and are such a cultural asset.
“We’ll be bringing participatory arts to Kielder in a way that is new and fresh. We want to explore what dark skies mean in a cultural sense and how to create a meaningful dark sky narrative around the landmarks of the Kielder Art and Architecture programme.”
It is believed the event will build on the current dark skies tourism offering which is worth more than £25m per year to Northumberland, generating around 450 jobs.
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Plans are underway to create a large-scale arts spectacular in Northumberland with professional performers cast alongside people from the local community.
)
Funding received from the Cultural Recovery Fund
We were delighted to be awarded £23,300 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund Cultural Recovery Fund. This was a welcome investment in maintaining our core team, upgrading our observatory buildings and keeping them COVID-secure for visitors.
We were delighted to be awarded £23,300 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund Cultural Recovery Fund. This was a welcome investment in maintaining our core team, upgrading our observatory buildings and keeping them COVID-secure for visitors.
[fulltext] =>
Kielder Observatory receives funding from the National Lottery Heritage Cultural Recovery Fund
We were delighted to be awarded £23,300 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund Cultural Recovery Fund. This was a welcome investment in maintaining our core team, upgrading our observatory buildings and keeping them COVID-secure for visitors. We were one of over 470 organisations to receive funding, which came from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and was designed to support heritage recover from the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19) and it built on more than £146m delivered to the sector in the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund, which included funding for revenue and capital works. For more details, see the news story on NLHF's website https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/news/over-470-heritage-organisations-receive-culture-recovery-fund-lifeline
We were delighted to be awarded £23,300 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund Cultural Recovery Fund. This was a welcome investment in maintaining our core team, upgrading our observatory buildings and keeping them COVID-secure for visitors.
)
A Star by Any Other Name
Can you name or own a star? Ellie, one of our Astronomers, discusses websites which offer the opportunity to buy or name a star. Can you buy a star? Who can name a star? Why don’t Kielder Observatory offer this service?
Can you name or own a star? Ellie, one of our Astronomers, discusses websites which offer the opportunity to buy or name a star. Can you buy a star? Who can name a star? Why don’t Kielder Observatory offer this service?
[fulltext] =>
A Star by Any Other Name: Can you name or own a star?
By Ellie Macdonald
A quick search on the internet of “Buy a star” will turn up dozens of websites that offer you the chance to name or even buy a star. At Kielder Observatory we frequently receive emails asking about these services and enquiring if we offer similar. We have never and nor will we ever offer a service like this because of one simple reason: you cannot own a star and we do not have the authority to name one.
(The signing of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. Credit: United Nations)
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty was introduced in light of the “Space Race” between the US and the USSR and it aimed to set out some base rules for space. Article II of the treaty states:
“Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means.”
The treaty also says that that governments are responsible for public and private organisations that operate within their country, so that they too have to act according to the treaty. The treaty was an attempt to find a compromise between the USSR, who wanted space to be the preserve of governments, and the US, who wanted the private sector to have the same access. In other words - there is a ratified UN treaty that prevents you from owning a star, or any other celestial body.
A star by any other name
So, you cannot own a star, but what about naming? Many of the services offer you the chance to name a star in memory of a loved one or as a gift, and have it placed into a registry or catalogue. The official naming of stars is the domain of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The IAU support the Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) which is an international group of astronomers who research and catalogue star names drawing on cultural and historical traditions. You can read more about how exactly they determine proper names here. A proper name is a name you would use to recognise a star like you would a place or person, such as Sirius “the scorcher” or Alphard “the solitary one” rather than a scientific designation. No one outside of the IAU have the authority to give a “proper” name to a star.
Stars which have not received a “proper” name from the WGSN are typically referred to by one or many of their catalogue numbers. Star catalogues are lists of stars which assign a designation to each observed star and log certain characteristics such as magnitude, spectral class, distance, amongst others. There are well over 100 star catalogues and establishing one is not particularly difficult. Some of the star catalogues most used by astronomers are the Hipparcos (HIP), Tycho-2 (TYC), Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), and Henry Draper (HD) catalogues.
Companies which offer the opportunity to name a star can do so by simply starting their own star catalogue (by just listing stars) and then selling off stars. The stars named through these services are named only on this one specific catalogue. Some of them assign stars at random, so there is no guarantee that the star you pay to name on their catalogue is visible. The star in question may never rise above the horizon from your locality, or it may be too faint to observe from most telescopes on the planet.
Down to earth
The urge to name a star after someone is not new. The Henry Draper star catalogue was named after him as his wife Mary Anna funded the creation of it. On a personal note - I know what it is to love and lose someone close to me. I know the urge to render a finite life and an infinite love into something that will outlive everyone. I understand why this is appealing, but at the same time I want to make it absolutely clear what it is that you are purchasing when you go to these sites.
At the end of the day what you are buying is a certificate (and sometimes assorted accompaniments). If this is what you want - all power to you. This said, the star you name will not be recognised by that name by anyone other than you. The star you name may not even be observable under the best conditions at the most ideal location.
This may seem all very negative at this point - you cannot name nor can you own a star. What can you do then? The saying “we’re made of star stuff” is as true now as ever and you can keep this in mind. You don’t need to name a star because all that is you was once a star. Energy, therefore matter in a sense, cannot be created or destroyed in a closed system such as the universe, we are stuck in this cosmic recycling plant. This is the first law of thermodynamics. Each one of us has always been “here” in some form, and always will be. You and your loved ones are older than all those stars in the sky anyway.
A gift from space
If you are looking for a space-themed gift for a loved one then meteorites make great tangible presents. Meteorites are rocks that originate from a source in outer space and that have fallen to the Earth’s surface. Some of these meteorites are older than Earth itself and you can hold them, smell them, lick them (if you are a geologist). Take care to look for authentication when sourcing meteorites though, look for sellers that are reputable and try to get verification prior to acquisition, particularly for larger samples. We often stock some meteorites which we sell during our events at the observatory.
We love the stars here at Kielder Observatory, but part of their beauty is their universality. They don’t really belong to us small stargazers on this pale blue dot, and that is the way it should stay.
(The pale blue dot revisited. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
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)
Perseverance, Hope, and Questions to Heaven
In 2020 three missions launched with the same destination in mind - Mars. About half of all Mars missions have failed, but with Hope and Tianwen-1 already in orbit and working well, 2021 could well be shaping up to be a year of historic success. No pressure Perseverance.
In 2020 three missions launched with the same destination in mind - Mars. About half of all Mars missions have failed, but with Hope and Tianwen-1 already in orbit and working well, 2021 could well be shaping up to be a year of historic success. No pressure Perseverance.
[fulltext] =>
Perseverance, Hope, and Questions to Heaven
By Eleanor Macdonald, Astronomer
In 2020 the planets aligned, quite literally, and 3 missions launched with the same destination in mind- Mars. About half of all Mars missions have failed, but with Hope and Tianwen-1 already in orbit and working well, 2021 could well be shaping up to be a year of historic success. No pressure Perseverance.
The United Arab Emirates’ Hope probe was the first of this batch of missions to reach the red planet. After 7 months and having travelled 494 million kilometres it entered Mars orbit on Tuesday evening. A few days later, Hope sent back its first picture of Mars:
[Caption: The image captured daylight breaking on Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system. Credit: UAESA]
The Hope probe will spend the next 2 years orbiting Mars and collecting data to provide the first complete picture of the Martian atmosphere. The team at the Emirates Mars Mission want to understand climate dynamics on Mars, and also to answer key questions about the rate at which Mars loses hydrogen and oxygen gases to space.
The day after Hope, Tianwen-1 also established orbit around Mars. Tianwen roughly translates to “Questions to Heaven”. It is the first successful interplanetary mission by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and consists of an orbiter, deployable camera, lander, and rover. Tainwen-1 will spend the next few months orbiting Mars before attempting to land the rover. In that time, it will be scanning the surface of Mars to refine the target landing zone for the rover in Utopia Planitia. Should the CNSA be successful in landing their rover they would be only the second space agency to do so, after NASA. The objectives for the mission include studying surface soil characteristics, the distribution of water ice, and Mars’s magnetic field.
Finally, on the 18th of February the third mission that was launched during the 2020 launch window will reach Mars. The Perseverance rover is the centrepiece of the $2.5 billion Mars 2020 mission from NASA. It is about the same size as a small car and weighs in at just over 1000kg. The design of the Perseverance rover, affectionately nicknamed “Percy”, is based on that of the Curiosity rover but there are plenty of new additions.
[Caption: A diagram of the Perseverance rover which labels its scientific instruments. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech]
Perhaps the most exciting new feature being sent to Mars with Perseverance is the Ingenuity helicopter. The entire purpose of Ingenuity is to be a technology demonstration. It will reach Mars attached to the belly of Perseverance and after a few months it will be placed on the Martian surface and attempt- for the first time- powered flight on another planet.
[Caption: An artist’s impression of the Ingenuity helicopter and the Perseverance rover. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech]
Mars’s atmosphere is thin, only 1% as thick as Earth’s, and this makes generating the lift necessary for flight difficult. In order to make it possible Ingenuity has been made as light as possible at only 1.8kg. If the technology can be successfully demonstrated it will pave the way for future helicopter missions to Mars. The hope is that helicopters could be useful on Mars by allowing us a birds-eye view of geological features and to set sight on regions traditionally off-limit to rovers due to steep or slippery terrain.
[Caption: The Jezero crater and planned landing site for the Perseverance rover. To the left of the landing site you can see a water inlet and an ancient river delta. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech]
Perseverance will be aiming to land in the Jezero crater. This site has been selected due to the likelihood that it used to contain water. In images it appears to have both in inlet and outlet as well as an ancient river delta. River deltas are landforms created by the deposition of sediment from rivers as they run into slow-moving or stagnant water sources, such as lakes. The hope is that the river deltas on Mars will, like Earth, contain a large amount of organic matter. This is important because Percy’s raison d’être is to finally answer the question we’ve been asking for years: Is there life on Mars?
Well, almost. Perseverance doesn’t aim to investigate if there is currently life on Mars, rather it is looking to find evidence of past life. This is something that has been investigated to some extent by most surface Mars missions, but Perseverance has the best chance yet of getting us a definitive answer.
Previous rovers have searched for signs of life by pulverising rock into a fine dust and heating it to essentially see if it smells of dead stuff. Perseverance won’t be crushing rock; it will be drilling into it in order to obtain a core sample which will then be packed safely away. The goal is to collect around 0.5kg of rock which will, for the first time ever, be sent back to Earth.
Once the rock samples are back on Earth, scientists will finally have the opportunity to examine it with a full suite of laboratory instruments. The rock which will be collected will be selected based on the probability it holds evidence of ancient life. The rock collection mechanism will also provide an opportunity to test our ability to get things off Mars and could be vitally important for developing strategies for possible future crewed missions. We will have to be patient, however, as NASA has no plans to collect these samples soon, it will be 10 years at least.
Furthermore, Perseverance has MOXIE. The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilisation Experiment, that is. This is a technology demonstration that will produce oxygen from atmospheric carbon dioxide. Mars’s atmosphere is 96% carbon dioxide so, if successful, MOXIE will open a number of new possibilities for mission planners trying to figure out how to support humans on Mars.
At approximately 8:55pm GMT Perseverance will land. Its Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) profile is identical to Curiosity’s, with one difference – Terrain-Relative Navigation (TRN). TRN is a new EDL technology which uses a special camera to quickly map the terrain. This is compared with an onboard map and if Perseverance determines that it is heading into hazardous terrain, it corrects course.
[Caption: The Entry, Descent, and Landing profile for the Perseverance rover. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech]
It is likely to be a tense couple of minutes, the team have already taken to calling it the “Seven Minutes of Terror”, and you too can participate in it! The entry, descent, and landing of Perseverance will be broadcast live by NASA on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Twitch, amongst other channels starting at 7:15pm GMT. More information can be found on the NASA website.
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)
From STEM to stars!
The restoration of an historical telescope will form the centrepiece of a project to inspire thousands of school children to reach for the stars and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
The restoration of an historical telescope will form the centrepiece of a project to inspire thousands of school children to reach for the stars and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
[fulltext] =>
Kielder Observatory, set in the beautiful Kielder Water and Forest Park, in Northumberland, has secured a grant from the Reece Foundation to help restore an original Herschel telescope at Newcastle University to full working order. It will use the restoration to inspire thousands of school children, with an initial pilot of its programme, From STEM to Stars, at schools across Northumberland and Sunderland in the WISE Academies Trust.
The telescope will be at the centre of a project to create Kielder Observatory Star Groups – groups of school children who will study the restoration of the telescope to learn about the science and engineering skills involved while learning more about the night sky from the observatory’s team of professional astronomers.
The team will be visiting schools for activities and children will also be visiting the site, which sits under the finest dark skies in Europe. Star group members will have the opportunity to become Kielder Observatory Ambassadors and have work placements at space companies in the North East.
Catherine Johns, CEO of Kielder Observatory, said: “Herschel is a familiar name in the North East. Both William and Caroline Herschel were hugely influential in the study of astronomy and to be able to restore a telescope that William Herschel himself perhaps used is very exciting. This project is part of our developing strategy to reach beyond the observatory site and connect with people in innovative ways to convey that special moment of Kielder inspiration.
“The project will enable children to work with expert businesspeople and academics in the North East, helping them make a direct link between STEM subjects at school and STEM career opportunities in the North East.”
Zoe Carr, OBE, CEO of the WISE Academies Trust said: “We’re delighted to be the first schools to be involved in this exciting project. It’s important for our pupils to learn about their rich, scientific heritage and the great innovation that has been achieved here in the North-East. This project not only looks to the past but will also inspire pupils to see the possibilities that lay before them through the exploration of careers in engineering and STEM subjects.”
Anne Reece, chairwoman of the Reece Foundation said: “The Reece Foundation is delighted to support this project which brings the Kielder Observatory facilities to schools and children in the region – and links this to one story from the region’s rich history of innovation and scientific discovery.
“The opportunity to see the stars and planets alongside the chance to restore such a historically significant object as the Herschel telescope is one not to be missed. We are sure this will be both inspiring to the new generation of engineers and scientists that the region and the world so desperately need – and also a lot of fun.”
Dr Angela Dyson, director of physics at Newcastle University, said: “We’re really excited to be part of this project. Alexander Herschel was the founding professor of physics at Newcastle in 1871. His father John, grandfather William and great aunt Caroline were all eminent astronomers. Restoring the telescope has been an ambition of ours for quite some time. This project provides a unique platform to inspire and enthuse the next generation of engineers, physicists and astronomers.”
The new project comes as Kielder has recently received planning permission to site a new five metre diameter Spider 500 radio telescope, known as the Tanlaw telescope, which will allow it to contribute to worldwide scientific research, attract university research into Northumberland and develop its remote outreach activities, particularly in schools.
The observatory has already announced the development of an augmented reality Kielder Observatory, allowing people to view a virtual nighttime sky, and is developing an online Kielder learning resource, with many more initiatives on the horizon.
The observatory, which attracts around 20,000 visitors per year, has a team of astronomers, guest speakers and volunteers who discuss and make observations about the Universe through a series of public events.
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The restoration of an historical telescope will form the centrepiece of a project to inspire thousands of school children to reach for the stars and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
)
Kielder Observatory Podcasts!
New podcast series from Kielder Observatory - tune in every month! We'll be covering topics from cosmology, exoplanets, immersive tech, space situational awareness and much much more. Listen and subscribe!
New podcast series from Kielder Observatory - tune in every month! We'll be covering topics from cosmology, exoplanets, immersive tech, space situational awareness and much much more. Listen and subscribe!
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)
New radio telescope for Kielder
Kielder Observatory is excited to announce we've submitted plans for a fantastic new telescope onsite.
Kielder Observatory is excited to announce we've submitted plans for a fantastic new telescope onsite.
[fulltext] =>
New telescope!!!
We’ve just submitted plans to site for a new five-metre-diameter, Spider 500 radio telescope.
The move into radio astronomy allows us to contribute to worldwide scientific research, attract university research into Northumberland and develop our remote outreach activities.
It will make a dramatic difference to our astronomy offer. We can use it for citizen science projects and engage a wide variety of audiences in STEM, illuminating career pathways and providing student placements and apprenticeship opportunities.
The telescope will mostly be funded by the Tanlaw Foundation. Lord Tanlaw selected Kielder Observatory because of its commitment to public outreach and its remote location. He said: “It is hugely important that we can use this facility to reach a wider, hitherto excluded, audience to observe the Universe and create distance learning in astronomy, data science and astrobiology.”
This telescope is part of “Kielder Observatory Constellations”, our strategy to reach beyond the observatory site and connect with people in innovative ways to convey that special Kielder moment of inspiration. We’ve already announced the development of an augmented reality Kielder Observatory, with many more initiatives on the horizon.
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Kielder Observatory is excited to announce we've submitted plans for a fantastic new telescope onsite.
)
Your Own Kielder Observatory
Click here to read more about how Kielder Observatory is bringing cutting edge technology to the depths of Kielder forest.
Click here to read more about how Kielder Observatory is bringing cutting edge technology to the depths of Kielder forest.
[fulltext] =>
We're very excited to be partnering with Arcade Ltd to create your very own Kielder Observatory, via the magic of augmented reality... Thanks to the Digital Catapult North East and Tees Valley North East Social Tech Fund, we have £10,000 to create a prototype and, once we've seen how it works, we'll work closely with Arcade Ltd to raise further funding so that everyone can enjoy the experience. Imagine it - your very own "Kielder Observatory" that you can enter via a smartphone and view a virtual night-time sky!
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)
Exoplanet
Poof! ‘Planet’ disappears from astronomers’ sight. Did it even exist?
Poof! ‘Planet’ disappears from astronomers’ sight. Did it even exist?
[fulltext] =>Exoplanet
By Dan Pye, Astronomer and Visitor Experience Lead
A new study released on the 20th April in the journal Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) offers an answer to a mystery that has been intriguing the world of astronomy.
Fomalhaut b, an extrasolar object and candidate planet orbiting the A-type main-sequence star Fomalhaut, was first documented using visible light wavelengths in 2008 by astronomers assessing data from the Hubble telescope and later confirmed in 2012 by an international team of astronomers as a large exoplanet. This method is different to the more commonly known ‘transit’ method which scans for a dip in light as a planet passes infant of its star.
Early in the discovery scientists argued against the idea of a unique Jupiter sized object shrouded by dust, and rather suggested that the image was a short-lived dust cloud unrelated to any planet based on the objects motion and lack fo infrared detection. This seems to have been the case.
András Gáspár, an assistant astronomer at the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory analysed recent images captured by Hubble in 2013 and 2014 and discovered that Fomalhaut b had indeed disappeared. Fomalhaut b could have been the result of two icy bodies colliding with one another leaving a cloud of fine dust particles visible enough to be observed.
This discovery discrediting the exoplanet however opens astronomers to a new kind of discovery.
“These collisions are exceedingly rare and so this is a big deal that we actually get to see evidence of one," said Andras Gaspar, an assistant astronomer at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory and lead author of the new paper. "We believe that we were at the right place at the right time to have witnessed such an unlikely event with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope."
Today’s paper could help shape future exoplanet research.
“The Fomalhaut star system is the ultimate test lab for all of our ideas about how exoplanets and star systems evolve," said George Rieke, a Regents Professor of Astronomy at Steward Observatory. "We do have evidence of such collisions in other systems, but none of this magnitude has been observed in our solar system. This is a blueprint of how planets destroy each other."
Fomalhaut, a star twice as big as our sun and 20 times brighter, is located in the constellation Pisces Austrinus approximately 25 light years from Earth and is one of the brightest stars in the nights sky.
Poof! ‘Planet’ disappears from astronomers’ sight. Did it even exist?
)Coronavirus measures
Update regarding current coronavirus measures for events at the observatory
Update regarding current coronavirus measures for events at the observatory
[fulltext] =>Update for COVID-19
All restrictions are lifted in England and we have reviewed our risk assessments. Masks are no longer required and are now a matter of personal choice. We are maintaining our reduced capacity at but this is under constant review.
We have retained our amended terms and conditions regarding cancellations:
- We have reduced our notice period from 14 days to seven days: this means that, if your plans change, you can request a transfer voucher to the value of your tickets, less an administration fee of £5, if the event is more than seven days away. If your booking is within seven days and the event is sold out, we can attempt to resell the tickets and issue you with a transfer voucher less a £5 admin fee if the tickets sell.
We have also retained some of the measures we put in place as they have helped managed the site and improve the experience.
- When you arrive at the Observatory, please wait inside your car until a member of staff escorts you to the building.
- If you are bringing children, you are responsible for ensuring they remain at a safe distance from other people.
- Hand sanitiser stations are available throughout the site – please ensure you use these whenever you switch locations.
- Card payments would be preferred over cash.
- As with all infectious diseases, please do not attend if you have any symptoms.
Please follow the guidance of the team at all times. In line with our existing terms and conditions, staff have the right to ask visitors to leave if they are not complying with guidance. We want all events at the Observatory to be inspirational and safe for everyone.
If you have any questions at all, please email admin@kielderobservatory.org and we will do our very best to provide you with the answers you need as quickly as possible.
- Catherine Johns, CEO
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Update regarding current coronavirus measures for events at the observatory
)
Observe, Experiment, Archive
Artist Helen McGhie (in partnership with Kielder Observatory) has produced work for the photography exhibit "Observe, Experiment, Archive" at Sunderland Museum, staff member Natasha Lund visits the exhibition to take a closer look.
Artist Helen McGhie (in partnership with Kielder Observatory) has produced work for the photography exhibit "Observe, Experiment, Archive" at Sunderland Museum, staff member Natasha Lund visits the exhibition to take a closer look.
[fulltext] =>Wanderers, Anatomy of a Northern Astronomer, Dark Adaptation
By Natasha Lund Ba (Hons), Art Programme Lead
The exploration of light, darkness the transformative nature of observing the night time sky.
These are the core concepts of contemporary photographer Helen McGhie’s body of work “Dark Adaptation”, “Wanderers” and “Anatomy of a Northern Astronomer”. Along with other work, and in partnership with Kielder Observatory, the pieces can be viewed between the 15th November and January the 5th at the Special Exhibition Gallery at the Winter Gardens Museum in Sunderland. As the arts programme lead for the observatory, I went down to view the exhibition and have a chat with Helen herself.
The Winter Gardens is a perfect stage for the exhibition to be set upon. With its verdant flora and fauna, spacious and stylish galleries and on trend eatery, it provides a perfect environment within which to contemplate the themes of scientific innovation, historical collections and the work of light and lens presented in “Observe, Experiment, Archive.” Helen’s work is one part of this response by photographic artists to the above and addresses not only the expression of the human condition but also how we might meet the challenges that face us in the future.
Of Helen’s work, the first is that it is at heart a process of telling the stories of those who seek out the darkness of the dark sky park, and who gaze up at the punctuating starlight that has inspired so many before them and will inspire so many after. A deeply personal experience, the act of observing is captured both starkly and enigmatically with “Wanderers”.
Here, Helen both conversed with and photographed staff from Kielder Observatory and her own mother. We are, us three, caught in the act of observing, performing for the camera whilst undergoing a journey into the darkness. The stark flash of a white throat and the sprinkling of winter snow accompanies Jesse, who is no stranger to the cold. The silent mist surrounds him and Kielder Observatory, our eyes into the universe, sits quietly in the murk. Jesse looks very at home. Perhaps that is what he feels when he stargazes.
Helen’s mother is a lone figure on a forest track, flanked by the tall trees in the twilight hour. Although it is not yet truly dark, she is expectant and patient, wrapped up warmly whilst she waits for starlight. Perhaps her wandering will show her stars for the first time. I wonder what she would think of her encounter with the changing skies, as darkness takes her and hears only her voice and no one else’s.
And finally, Helen photographed me. My hair is as bold as my stance, unafraid of the void that cuts off the landscape on which I stand. I am content in the darkness and surefooted. Kielder Observatory is my home and the sky is a map I can read and find beauty within. My portrait shows this, and I’m thrilled with it.
After being presented with three individual stories, three wanderers who are not lost but seeking a path to somewhere new that is not earthly, Helen’s next submission is more an invitation to darkness.
“Dark Adaptation” is a large, bold statement performative landscape where you are invited to consider what darkness is to you. It is in reality, as are most of the images presented to viewer, inspired by conversations with real astronomers and real people living and working under our dark skies. The particular story of this otherworldly image is in equal parts tragic, hopeful and brave. It speaks of stepping into new territory when the landscape has changed, even though you can’t see where you are going.
However, we don’t get to hear this tale as it is personal, as is every encounter with the darkness, which is precisely the point. What do you see when you stand alone in the dark? Where are you in this image? Perhaps on the surface of Mars. Perhaps in a photography dark room. Perhaps on the boundary of something personally challenging.
And the final instalment is the “Anatomy of a Northern Astronomer”, a catalogue style collection of images that embody, display and celebrate some of the tools, imagery and items that allow astronomers to practise their craft, along with some interpretative imagery that speaks of the scientific method.
The image shows some of the items that make the sky safe, accessible and understandable- solar filter glasses, a red light to preserve dark adapted vision, and a laser to locate deep sky objects and draw out the constellations in the sky. It’s a lovely collection of items and oddities that shed light on what it means to be an astronomer, both recently and historically, some playful, some integral, and uncovers some of the tools astronomers employ- such as measuring minutes of arc with your fingers.
It is fascinating to see an artist’s interpretation of the immersion of the individual in darkness, and the act of waiting for the universe to emerge. Helen confesses she herself is not an astronomer- and has thoroughly enjoyed stepping into the shoes of those who are and experiencing herself for the first time how darkness can draw a parallel to experiences in her own life. The research gained by speaking to astronomers, stargazers and spending time with us on site at the observatory in the cold, under the clearest skies, she tells me, has been an invaluable and amazing experience. I’d thoroughly encourage you to visit the exhibition, details can be found again below, and to also experience the works of the other photographic artist who explore a variety of themes in a poignant and documentarian way. For myself, I can’t wait to work with Helen again in the future and see where her developing PhD takes her in partnership with Kielder Observatory.
Natasha Lund
Astronomer & Arts Programme Lead
Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society
natasha@kielderobservatory.org
Observe Experiment Archive explores the parallels between photography and scientific methods such as observation, experimentation and archiving.
The exhibition considers how contemporary photographic artists can respond to both scientific innovation and historical collections, their work transforming our world through light and lens.
It delves into the age-old sense of wonder we feel when faced with the complex nature of our ever-changing world and the ongoing struggle to learn more. The exhibition also considers the power of human inventiveness in meeting global challenges.
Observe Experiment Archive features photography by Mandy Barker, Tessa Bunney, Liza Dracup, Sophie Ingleby, Helen McGhie, Maria McKinney, Robert Zhao Renhui and Penelope Umbrico.
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Artist Helen McGhie (in partnership with Kielder Observatory) has produced work for the photography exhibit "Observe, Experiment, Archive" at Sunderland Museum, staff member Natasha Lund visits the exhibition to take a closer look.
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MyHotelBreak.com Guest Blog
We recently collaborated with myhotelbreak when they visited us here at the Kielder Observatory. Find out what they discovered in this guest blog edition.
We recently collaborated with myhotelbreak when they visited us here at the Kielder Observatory. Find out what they discovered in this guest blog edition.
[fulltext] =>
We recently collaborated with myhotelbreak when they visited us here at the Kielder Observatory. Find out what they discovered in this guest blog edition:
By Jonathan Livingston
Northumberland is a place filled with so much history and scenic views. It’s one of our favourite places. We always like to ask our guests where they visited when they stayed in our hotels in Northumberland. A couple had mentioned they visited the Kielder Observatory. They went on to say that this was one of the main attractions they were visiting. The guests also said that the event they attended was the stand out highlight of their trip.
As we were going to be in Northumberland for a few days we did some digging and realised there were some really great events on when we were in the area.
Let’s find out more…
We were here around the second week in September so we decided to book up for the Late Night Explorer event. We knew we were in for a treat. From the outset, we were really taken aback. We were surrounded by some unrivalled scenery on the drive up to the observatory in Kielder. It was truly stunning.
We got the chance to look into the sky from the heart of the Northumberland Dark Sky Park. Also, we were lucky as the sky was quite clear so we were able to see quite a lot of stars in the sky which was a real bonus. We could actually make out some planet shapes too – this is how amazing the Observatory is. A true institution.
Added to this, the staff are not only a pleasure to deal with, they are so knowledgeable. The presentation ticked all the boxes. It was so informative. It gave us a deep insight into stars, space and astronomy in general. The expert team gave us an in-depth analysis of the observatory equipment and how it was used as well.
We were also treated to hot drinks which warmed us up as the evening got a bit chilly towards the end.
Please note that access to the observatory needs to be pre booked in advance. Find out all events that are on in the coming months here.
Insider tips:
• Information on all the events can be found here
• Tickets can be purchased on the website
• Tickets sell out fast so get in quick
The observatory is an attraction everyone must experience when on a break in Northumberland. Create memories that last at Kielder Observatory this year.
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We recently collaborated with myhotelbreak when they visited us here at the Kielder Observatory. Find out what they discovered in this guest blog edition.
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Hubble's Bubble
As the Hubble Space Telescope fast approaches its 29th Birthday, it is a good time to review one of our favourite images from the past few years.
As the Hubble Space Telescope fast approaches its 29th Birthday, it is a good time to review one of our favourite images from the past few years.
[fulltext] =>
By George Pattinson
At 7,000 to 8,000 light years away, hiding in the constellation of Cassiopeia is the Bubble Nebula. It is a fantastic example of an emission nebula: a dusty region of space which is being superheated - to temperatures of about 10,000 degrees Celsius - by an extremely hot and massive star. This glowing shell of gas is mainly made up of hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen, which is being excited by the radiation from the central star (the brightest star towards the upper-left quarter of the nebula).
As material from the surface of this fiercely hot star continues to be expelled, it pushes against an interstellar dust cloud which slows its progress and gives the nebula its distinct shape. The asymmetry of the expanding nebula hints towards irregularities in the giant dust cloud in which it is embedded; much like a plough piling up snow as it moves, where the star’s outflow encounters a denser region it is slowed more, whereas towards the bottom right of the nebula it flows more freely and quickly away. This is also the reason why the star in question lies off centre within the nebula.
Every year in April, the Hubble Space Telescope releases a different image to celebrate yet another year since its launch (24th April 1990) into low-Earth orbit. In 2016, Hubble celebrated its 26th birthday by capturing the above image. It is the culmination of many visible photos taken by Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 in February of the same year, where red represents nitrogen, green for hydrogen and blue for oxygen. This snapshot of the Bubble Nebula gives us an insight into the complex environment surrounding such hot massive stars, with scientists estimating that this star is due to detonate as a supernova in the next 10 to 20 million years.
If you would like to follow in William Herschel’s footsteps who discovered the Bubble Nebula in 1787, and observe this for yourself, then you are in for a bit of a challenge! It is possible to see as a faint glow through a medium 8” aperture telescope, if you know exactly where to look. It is situated in the constellation of Cassiopeia, about half a degree southwest from a well-known open cluster of stars called M52, surrounding the bright central star that is seen in the above image.
For more information on this nebula or how to observe it, book an event at Kielder Observatory and speak to one of our experienced astronomers!
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Latest News
Exciting things are happening at Kielder Observatory
Exciting things are happening at Kielder Observatory
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