Dan Pye

Dan Pye brings together astronomy, science communication, creative technology and a lifelong fascination with the night sky.

I can’t really remember a time when I wasn’t obsessed with stars, space and the question of what might be out there. Some of my most vivid memories from school are of projects about space, including building a giant Hubble Space Telescope from cardboard tubes.

The first object I remember seeing through a telescope was Mars, during a visit to my local observatory in Pontefract with my mum when I was at primary school. I also remember seeing the mountain ranges on the Moon. From that point on, I was hooked. I had subscriptions to Music of the Planets, developed a deep love of science fiction, and astronomy and stargazing became a constant part of my life.

After leaving school, I studied TV and film production, followed by theatrical studies at university. I then worked across retail, broadcasting and small business, including opening a science-themed café in Durham. The café hosted events designed to help people connect with STEM in a more relaxed and familiar setting.

I’m also a voice actor, heard across the UK on TV, radio and in some unexpected places, as well as in video games and other projects around the world.

During a difficult period as a small business owner, I found myself returning to Kielder again and again. I visited the Observatory around ten times before becoming a volunteer, and after a few months I joined the full-time team.

My main specialisms are observational astronomy, planetary science, astrophotography and meteorites. When I’m not stargazing, I’m usually working on ways to improve the Observatory, testing new technology, or exploring how we can create new exhibits and experiences for our visitors.

• Favourite Naked Eye Object: Betelgeuse
• Favourite Deep Sky Object: Scorpius
• Favourite Astronomer: Sir Patrick Moore