Kielder Observatory is one of the most remarkable places to visit in the whole of the UK, a public astronomical observatory which is second to none. Here you'll find "infinite inspiration" and wonders you could never have imagined under some of the darkest skies in the world.
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.
Looking to visit as soon as possible? Check out our events with last minute availability below.
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. ...
Tickets
From £20.00 per person
Next available event
Sunday 27th July
Those little dots of light in the sky, what are they? Do they have a pattern? Could they be planets? Bring your budding young scientists to this event and find out! Space Kids – Searching for Stars is an event designed to be a gentle introduction to astronomy in the most hands-on way possible. There will be plenty of opportunities for the young minds to explore and ask our astronomers questions. Then 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. We'll also explore how light works, looking at the whole electromagnetic spectrum. Observing through our telescopes is always the main aim. Weather permitting, we will point our telescopes to the skies and take a closer look at what is out there. To finish, we will show you how astronomers navigate their way through the stars and give you the opportunity to create your own constellation using glow in the dark implements. You get to take away your constellation and watch it glow each night, even the cloudy ones! 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....
Tickets
From £20.00 per person
Next available event
Monday 28th July
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. ...
Tickets
From £20.00 per person
Next available event
Wednesday 30th July
Our reviews are out of this world...
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.
Lots of exciting things are happening at Kielder Observatory, use this page to browse the latest stories.
Discover how Kielder Observatory's stunning astrophotography helped shape the haunting beauty of 28 Years Later, the latest blockbuster from Danny...
Read Time
3 minutes
As the long summer evenings slowly give way to darker skies, July offers a perfect opportunity to reconnect with the...
Read Time
4 minutes
Ever wondered how astronomers can casually claim that the sun is 5 billion years old or that the universe is...
Read Time
11 minutes
Purchase some of the incredible photographs taken from Kielder Observatory.
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
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
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
Late summer is the best time for Milky Way viewing, in this image taken in August the core of our galaxy sits just above the 16" Observatory with wonderful detail of the bright, dense region at the heart of our dynamic galaxy....
£25.00
Our workshops and talks are the perfect educational visit to broaden your knowledge!
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 £35.00 per person
Next available event
Monday 4th August
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 £35.00 per person
Next available event
Sunday 31st August
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...
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...
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.
