Matt Robinson

My first experience in astronomy was in 1997, when my uncle showed me Comet Hale Bopp through some binoculars and since then I haven't looked back. As a young boy living on the outskirts of Sunderland, I would always walk to the fields nearby with a star chart and try to pick out the constellations. 

I visited the observatory for the first time as a guest for the Geminid meteor shower in 2015. It was a completely clear night and we counted over 50 shooting stars every hour, ever since then the observatory has held a special place in my heart. I started volunteering at Kielder Observatory and shortly after that I was given a full-time role.

After a wonderful 18 months I was given opportunities to work in astronomy in other parts of the world. These opportunities have allowed me to live in the Arctic Circle in Finland and Norway under the spectacular Aurora Borealis, in Maldives where I worked as an astronomer in an Instagram famous hotel, and even to Chile where I covered an unforgettable total solar eclipse.

• Favourite Astronomy Experience: Lying in the snow and looking up at the Aurora dancing
• Favourite Astronomer: Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin
• Favourite Hobby: Playing football and listening to most genres of music