Menu
Tickets| Shop
Your Basket

10,000+

5-Star Reviews

#1 UK

Largest Stargazing Programme

Top 10%

Attraction on TripAdvisor

2008

Established

255,000

Visitors and Counting

Infinite
Inspiration

At Kielder Observatory

There are 103 tickets remaining for April

Astronomy
For All

From Kielder Observatory

There are 103 tickets remaining for April

Gift
Shop

Buy Our Online Range

There are 103 tickets remaining for April

“Wherever there is light, one can photograph”

It gives us immense pleasure to announce the winner and runners up in our inaugural Astrophotography Competition 16
 
We were honoured to have Sir Arnold Wolfendale, 14th Astronomer Royal and Patron of the Kielder Observatory judge the competition and we have included his comments on each photograph
 

1st Place: Sarah White: Lochan of stars

The serenity of this photograph sums up one of the attractions of Astronomy.

Sarah-White-Lochan-Full-of-Stars
 

2nd Place: David Wills: M45 The Pleides

A famous stellar group photographed in excellent definition.

David-Wills-M45-The-Pleides
 

3rd Place: Jordan Whipps: Bokeh Milky Way

A nice juxtaposition of the Great Milky Way with the elegant tracery of a terrestrial ‘denizen’

Bokeh Milky Way - Jordan Whipps
 
We’d like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part, we were blown away by some of the images which made judging the winner such a difficult decision. View our Virtual Exhibition below to see all of the shortlisted photos.
 
Commiserations to all those who didn’t make it to this stage, the competition was extremely fierce and we hope you will enter again next year.
 
 

#KOAPY16


 
 
 

Your Gateway to the Universe

Your Gateway to the Universe

Kielder Observatory is one of the most remarkable places to visit in the UK—a public astronomical observatory and educational charity offering something truly special for everyone.

Visit us and discover wonders beyond imagination, all set beneath the breathtaking skies of Europe’s largest Gold-Tier International Dark Sky Park. Whether you’re a first-time stargazer or a seasoned astronomer, our much-loved team promises an unforgettable experience.

Last Minute Events

Space Kids - Rockets & More
Only 2 tickets left!

Space Kids - Rockets & More

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....

Tickets

From £20.00 per person

Next available event

Monday 21st April

Space Kids - Rockets & More
Only 2 tickets left!

Space Kids - Rockets & More

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....

Tickets

From £20.00 per person

Next available event

Wednesday 23rd April

Aurora Night
Only 2 tickets left!

Aurora Night

Our most popular event... the Northern Lights! What are they? How do we see them? The Aurora Borealis have influenced fairy tales and folklore for millennia, shaped communities and religious beliefs, provided civilisations with incredible stories of gallant valour and past spirits. The theme of the presentation this evening will integrate the Aurora and the fascinating scientific facts that explain it. We will explore how science has studied and discovered the processes that create the beautiful dancing Northern Lights. Learn about the incredible energy that the sun releases second by second and how this energy interacts with the Earth’s atmosphere to give us a light show like no other. Tonight you will learn not only the science behind the Aurora but also the best locations to try to spot them, so when your event is over you will be proficient in knowing when and where to look for these legendary dancing lights on the special nights they visit the UK. The Aurora is an elusive and rare phenomenon as far south as England so we can't tell you when it will be visible from the observatory, but we do get a great view from our dark position on top of Black Fell for those guests who are lucky enough to be visiting us when they appear in our skies!  And if you do miss them, we'll tell you everything you need to know about how to track them down in the future. During the event you will enjoy a tour of the Observatory, see the telescopes and meet our team of passionate astronomers. The team will be on hand to answer all your questions and to help you use our telescopes to observe a range of objects including, craters on the moon, distant galaxies, nebulae or star clusters depending on weather conditions. You can also join us on our observation deck and gaze at the dark skies and maybe even the Milky Way, all from one of Europe's darkest locations. During the lighter summer nights 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, we can only observe during clear skies, so our aim is to deliver a fantastic experience whatever the weather with the help of our team of experienced and passionate astronomers....

Tickets

From £28.50 per person

Next available event

Thursday 24th April

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 7 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 6 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 6 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 4 months ago
The milkway over Kielder Observatory
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

Are Aliens Real?

Are Aliens Real?

Is anybody else out there? In this month's Ask An Astronomer, Science communicator and Astronomer James Claxton looks at one...

Read Time

10 minutes

What's Up? April 2025

What's Up? April 2025

After a very astronomically eventful March, we move swiftly into April meaning Spring is well and truly underway bringing with...

Read Time

5 minutes

What’s Up? March 2025

What’s Up? March 2025

In this month's What’s Up, astronomer Rosie talks us through March’s highlights. I don’t know about you, but I’m sure...

Read Time

6 minutes

Photography Prints

Andromeda Mounted Print

Andromeda Mounted Print

This picture was taken in the late Autumn of 2014, taken through the telescope with a DSLR camera....

£25.00

A clear night sky showcasing the Milky Way galaxy with vibrant stars and a bright planet, set above a modern building illuminated with red lighting.

Galactic Centre Rising

The galactic centre rising behind Kielder Observatory...

£25.00

Lunar Eclipse

Lunar Eclipse

The lunar eclipse on 21st January 2019 was an unforgettable sight. The whole observatory team stayed up until 6am to capture images of this amazing cosmic coincidence. A lunar eclipse is when the Earth is perfectly lined up in between the Sun and Moon. Earth’s shadow sweeps across the lunar surfaces causing the Moon to turn blood red....

£25.00

Winter Startrails

Winter Startrails

This was taken on a moonlit night to keep the observatory illuminated, the image is created by stacking a number of shots taken over a long period of time. This was shot using a 14mm lens, with 25 second exposures for 30 minutes. We can see how the stars appear to trail around one central point, our North Star (Polaris), as the Earth spins on its axis and Polaris stays still in its position directly above the North Pole....

£25.00

Colourful Startrails

Colourful Startrails

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

Workshops & Talks

Astro Photography

Astro Photography

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. ...

Tickets

From £28.50 per person

Next available event

Sunday 27th April

An angular wooden building with a modern design, illuminated with red and yellow lights, set against a clear starry night sky.

Relaxed Astronomy

Our Relaxed Astronomy events are designed specifically for those that may need a calmer and more flexible environment in which to learn.   These events will inspire you in a safe, relaxed and unrestricted environment with quieter shows, smaller groups (max of 20 guests), safe clapping and a choice on how you choose to experience the wonders of the universe. Our red lighting will always remain on as you move around the building, brighter interior white lighting may be used in some of the rooms, our trained staff will be on hand to guide you around every aspect of your visit.  The event is much less structured than our other events. There will be a short introduction to the Observatory (15 mins), after which you will get to visit our observation turrets. If weather permits and we can observe, our Astronomers will invite you to look through one of our large aperture telescopes. You will also get to discover other interactive sessions which you can dip in and out of, such as; virtual navigation of the Night Sky with handheld tablets, discover pieces of our solar system in a hands-on meteorite activity. All stations will be set up around the observatory and you will be free to roam around, get involved with the activities as you like and absorb it all in your own way. A breakout space will be provided away from activities if required. Our Observatory is designed to make your experience, an engaging, educational time, so please do feel free to ask questions and take part in as much as you can to maximise your visit.  We continue to take into account the impact of Covid-19 for our visitors and work hard to ensure you feel comfortable and safe during your event.  At times our astronomers may talk to the group as a whole, it’s important that you feel comfortable throughout our event so talking and movement is welcome throughout, you’re never required to sit in silence for a long period of time.  Doors will open 20 mins before the beginning of the event, so you are welcome to enter and familiarise yourself with the area prior to the start time.  We hope these events will be helpful to those with sensory sensitivity....

Tickets

From £28.50 per person

Next available event

Monday 5th May

Planetarium Shows

Planetarium Shows

Private Events

Travel through the cosmos as we bring the wonder of the dark skies to you with our inflatable planetarium. Perfect for a group setting, our astronomers will guide you across the universe with these impressive shows...

Astronomy Workshops

Astronomy Workshops

Private Events

From meteorites to space exploration, planets to satellites and everything in between, our astronomer-lead workshops are the perfect way to engage with science and astronomy for schools and community groups. With practical hand-on learning, guided by an expert astronomer there is no better way to get to grips with astronomy...

Kielder Observatory Podcast

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.

Apple Podcasts Logo
Spotify Logo
RSS Logo
FAQs BOOK NOW GIFT SHOP