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.
Welcome to the Light Year Academy! This event is designed to set you off on your journey to becoming an astronomer, by combining all our Space Kids events into one fun-filled event.
Starting with our solar system, we will learn more about why our own planet experiences changes like the seasons and explore the planets whilst making a smaller, to-scale version of our solar system using inflatable planets.
Then, there will be a tour of the observatory where each room will contain a different activity and something new to learn. In our largest observing room, you will be able to see our telescopes and understand how they work using some lasers and differently shaped glass to demonstrate what happens to the light entering a telescope. You may even operate them yourself. If the sun is shining, we can safely observe the sun and perhaps some stars.
In another room, you will detect the different, invisible types of light that exist around us every day and show you why astronomers use them to show us more of the universe. At the beginning of this activity, you will watch as our radio telescope moves into place to take a picture of the Sun in radio waves and at the end you will be shown what it captured.
The last stop is our space rock collection. After learning more about comets, asteroids, and meteorites and where they come from, you will be able to take a closer look at some real pieces of rock from space. These rocks will be the oldest things you will ever touch, and you will even be able to touch the moon. But look closely! Some normal rocks will be added to our collection, and you must identify which ones are from space and which aren’t.
Now, here comes the really fun bit. To finish, we are going to talk about space exploration, where astronauts are sent and how they get up there. Then, you will be making your very own rocket that we will fill with air and launch as high as we can go. Prepare to count down, pull the trigger and watch as your rocket shoots into the air!
At the end of your event, you will receive a certificate to certify that you graduated from the Light Year Academy, as well as some other goodies. You will also be given the opportunity to roam around the observatory one last time, peruse the gift shop and ask our astronomers any questions.
Join us for a jam-packed evening of activities and come away inspired to learn more about our universe.
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Space Kids is one of our most popular events for parents and their young scientists. These events are designed to inspire, enthuse and educate, in a way the youngsters will never forget.
We start with a brief talk then questions from you, which our astronomers will endeavour to answer; though with some of the questions we get from young minds it's even a challenge for us!
There will be a full tour of our two observatories and a chance to see, play with and drive our big telescopes! There may be time for us to touch real rocks from space, meteorites from the Moon, Mars and the asteroid belt, some of which are even older than the planet you're stood on right now.
Depending on the season and the weather, if there's time, we may take a look at the skies to see what we can observe.
Then rocket making, we turn Kielder in to mission control, and teach you how to build and launch your own rockets. A fun packed two hours of wonder and real discovery.
Please be aware all children under 16 yrs must be accompanied by an adult, all of whom must have a ticket. We recommend this event is best for ages 7 to 12 years old....
Discovering life on other worlds using the hidden messages within light!
Join us at Kielder Observatory, high on the hillside in Northumberland’s International Dark Sky Park hunting for life elsewhere in our universe!
These events are designed to be engaging, interactive and fun as we look at how light moves through the universe, and how astronomers can use the hidden secrets within light to discover the existence of planets beyond our own solar system. These hidden messages can also be translated to help us discover life on those planets.
You will start by learning all about our solar system and how it formed, how planets differ from each other, and we’ll even begin to explore exoplanets. Could there be life on another planet? Well, you can use everything you learn to create your own exoplanet to take away with you!
We'll also have some space rocks on hand for you all to explore - you could find yourself holding a piece of rock approximately 4.5 billion years old, or even a fragment of the Moon or Mars!
And don’t forget, you’re here to search for aliens, so keep your eyes peeled for any unexpected visitors…
Whatever the weather, our team will present an inspirational experience, taking youngsters and parents on a trip through the cosmos in a way that will enthuse younger audiences and be equally interesting for accompanying adults. Of course, if it's clear, we can’t resist but show you through our large aperture telescopes.
At the end of the event you will have time to grab a drink, and peruse our gift shop, wander around the facilities, grab any selfies you wish, and ask any questions you may have from our team of astronomers. We recommend this event is best for ages 7 to 12 years old. Please be aware all children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, all of whom must have a ticket.
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Tickets
From £20.00 per person
Next available event
Thursday 7th 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
10 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
9 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
9 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
7 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.
