Kielder Observatory is now at Twice Brewed Inn too!
Alongside our regular Observatory events, we’re bringing our unique experiences to one of Northumberland’s most iconic inns. Click below to explore upcoming events and secure your place with our expert team for an unforgettable night of discovery.
Stellarium a photo realistic planetarium package for Linux/Mac OSX/Windows/Mobile Phone
Celestia A more complex package which allows you to see the universe from other stars/planets
Cartes du Ciel A more serious package for advanced observers.
We look forward to seeing you soon at the amazing Kielder Observatory
Discover the Stars. Create Memories.
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.
Last Minute Events
Looking to visit as soon as possible? Check out our events with last minute availability below.
The Universe. Unimaginably large, old and complex. How did it all begin? How long has it been around? When will it end?
From our earthly perspective, humans have sought for solutions to the very beginnings of it all, the stars and bodies within it and ultimately how the universe will end.
Join us on a night where we will journey through space and time, out into the cosmos to unlock some of the mysteries our universe has to offer. From our solar system to the large-scale structure of the universe and on to the Big Bang, we will explore our current perceptions of it and the important discoveries made along the way. This cosmic voyage gives an excellent understanding of the physical universe as a whole and address what it means to exist within it, in a way which is interesting and accessible to all.
During the evening we will guide you through the observatory, introduce you to the large aperture telescopes and give you guidance on how to use them. If the skies are clear we will view objects in our own galaxy, some of which are beyond the realms of what the naked eye can see and which have shaped our understanding of the universe!
You will also 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....
Visiting schools providing educational outreach is something we do for much of the school term at Kielder Observatory, and we are always blown away by the enthusiasm and passion kids have for space-related subjects.
Our Young Explorers event is designed to build on that passion of your young scientists and help encourage further learning by feeding their excitement for everything space related.
Throughout this event you and your family will be guided around our astronomical ark and discover our large aperture robotic telescopes, learn about how they work and why we use them, if weather permits you will even get to observe brighter objects through them. You will be introduced to a digital guide of our night sky, learning constellations and why we use them, you can even continue that learning from home witih a free piece of software for your computer.
Then we will get hands on and discover pieces of our solar system, some of which originate from its very creation, as we introduce you to our collection of meteorites, you'll even get to stand on a piece of Mars, and tickle a piece of the Moon!
At the end of the event you will have time to grab a drink and peruse our gift shop, wander around the facilites, grab a selfie and ask any questions from our team of astronomers.
Young Explorers is aimed at all ages from 7 years upwards, with plenty to enjoy for those at secondary school age too!
So join us for an event geared around a tour of the UK's largest public stargazing facility, with fun and inspirational activities along the way and we will take you on a journey of observation, navigation and creation. Please be aware all children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, all of whom must have a ticket....
This event takes place at the darkest part of the night, presenting the best opportunity for stargazing in clear weather.
Night owls is a phrase we often get described as working in Astronomy, it’s a hobby best served late at night. Our late-night events have been our most popular events for many years.
Guiding you through your astronomical discovery, our team of enthused astronomers will impart knowledge and stories about what lays beyond Earth’s atmosphere, touring you around our facilities during which you will meet state of the art instrumentation used for observing the night skies. Whether virtually or physically, you will get hands on with astronomy, and our astronomers will guide your journey into the stars. You'll be taking part in activities along the way, and of course the opportunity to stargaze in one of Europe’s best places to do so, should the skies be clear.
Why is Kielder such a special place to do astronomy?
In the heart of the Northumberland, Kielder Water and Forest Park is rated as the largest gold tier dark skies park in Europe, making it one of the best places to observe the stars in the UK. Being far away from big towns and cities, means that when weather permits and depending on the moon phase, the sky can be awash with thousands of stars. When the skies are clear, using our large aperture robotic telescopes, we can reveal hidden objects which lay beyond our atmosphere and gaze deep into our cosmos. When the moon is in sight, craters, and mountain ranges on our only natural satellite.
What happens if it's cloudy?
On nights where weather does not permit observations, we use technology to help you visualise how things may have otherwise been seen, using immersive instruments which simulate observing through a telescope, and large screen night sky navigation, pre-captured images and videos.
What does my ticket cost go towards supporting?
Supporting these events helps us deliver our charitable objectives across all our science communication offers, including delivering workshops in Schools, working with vulnerable people, rehabilitation projects in prisons, engaging in creative arts and expression with refugees, and the rest of the work we deliver as a small team across not just the UK, but also the rest of the world. You as a contributor, visiting our events makes all this possible.
The ticket price for this event reflects the cost of hosting these bespoke events and, however as the evening goes, we will strive to give you a first-class experience at the UK's premier public observatory!
How will my event run?
***Please note this is a structure that is changeable depending on the conditions of the night and the weather forecast. Stargazing is treated as a priority throughout the event where conditions allow.***
On arrival you will be guided down from the car park around 10 minutes prior to your event and welcomed into the main room where you will be seated with other guests for a welcome video and a short introduction talk from a member of the team.
After this you will be taken on a tour of the facilities in 3 groups and rotated to visit all 3 stations. If weather permits, you will partake in structured observing in our 3 observing locations. If weather does not permit stargazing the tours will consist of pre-captured footage viewed through our state-of-the-art digital telescope, night sky software simulations and constellation hunting, and an introduction to space rocks where you will get hands on with the raw ingredients of our solar system from outer space.
Hot drinks will be served during one of your tours during this event.
At the end of the night, you will have a small amount of free time to continue observations should weather permit, speak to our astronomers, and ask them questions, visit the gift shop, take selfies with the telescope or revisit any of the activities you have taken part in throughout the night.
As part of your ticket price, you will receive:
10% off in our gift shop
A free star map
20% discount voucher for a future booking if no observing can take place
Information and literature are available to take away with you which covers many of the topics covered throughout this event.
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Tickets
From £45.00 per person
Next available event
Saturday 30th August
Reviews & Testimonials
Our reviews are out of this world...
Such a wonderful place. I went on my birthday for Late Night Discovery and had a great time. The team are so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We viewed Saturn, Jupiter, a dying star, loads of constellations like the Seven Sisters and...
Kate Brennan
11 months ago
Attended the Late Night Discovery event. Didn’t really know what to expect; it was absolutely fantastic! The team are so passionate and enthusiastic about imparting their abundance of knowledge, it really is captivating!
Jason Grant
10 months ago
We had a walk up and were invited to tour the observatory. The staff are very passionate and very informative, we got to see sun spots through the telescope.
Bill Thorkildsen
10 months ago
Loved this experience. Drive up lane is interesting in dark but fine. Staff brilliant, make great hot chocolate. Was lucky we had clear skies after the previous few days.
Dawn Wright
8 months ago
Registered Charity No 1153570
Donate to Kielder Observatory
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.
Latest News
Lots of exciting things are happening at Kielder Observatory, use this page to browse the latest stories.
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....
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....
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
Looking for something a little different?
Workshops & Talks
Our workshops and talks are the perfect educational visit to broaden your knowledge!
Take home the ultimate souvenir of knowledge from Kielder Observatory by learning how award winning astrophotographers take images of the night sky.
Modern day digital cameras have resulted in an explosion of popularity for night sky photography. By turning our lenses towards the night sky, we have helped our visitors realise just how capable they can be when shooting into darkness.
To start the night, our friendly team of astronomers will deliver a talk, suitable for beginners through to professionals, and will provide the top tips required in order to capture stunning nightscapes of the Milky Way, Aurora Borealis, startrails and more.
Furthermore, being situated in the heart of the Northumberland and Kielder Water’s Gold Tier Dark Sky Park, Kielder Observatory is the ideal destination for budding astrophotographers to learn, experiment and achieve quality results with their cameras.
Weather permitting, the evening will include informal practical photography sessions, use of Kielder Observatory telescopes to observe the night sky, and then it’ll be time to warm up with a generous dose of our famous hot chocolate, tea or coffee, included in the price.
The event will be heavily based on landscape astrophotography. We’d highly recommend you bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera, a wide-angle lens and a tripod. It’s even possible to capture the stars using the camera on modern smartphones, so we could give that a try! Oh… And don’t forget to charge your batteries!
You will also have the opportunity to support our charity further by taking home a memento of your visit from our gift shop. ...
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...
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...
Kielder Observatory Podcast
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.
