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Kielder Observatory is an astronomical and educational facility in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, on Black Fell, just half a mile (0.8 km) from the English border with Scotland. The site was chosen as one of the places in the UK with the least amount of intrusive light pollution.[1] The observatory was opened by the former Astronomer Royal Sir Arnold Wolfendale in March 2008.[2]
The observatory sits within the 580-square mile (1,502 km2) dark sky zone known as the Northumberland and Kielder Water and Forest International Dark Sky Park, the second largest area of protected night sky in Europe.[1] Its design is the result of a competition won by London-based Charles Barclay Architects, one of more than 230 designs submitted.[2]
Telescopes
The observatory has two observing turrets, the larger of which is known as Sir Pat, after the astronomer and BBC Sky at Night presenter Sir Patrick Moore (1923–2012). It houses a 16-inch (41 cm) TS Ritchey-Chrétien telescope, and a Skywatcher 5-inch (13 cm) refracting telescope.[3]
The smaller turret is named after Caroline Herschel (1750–1848), the discoverer of comets and the first female to receive a salary for her services to science in England.[a]Caroline was granted a royal pension of £50 a year, equivalent to about £8,500 as at 2024.[4] It houses a 16-inch (41 cm) Schmidt-Cassegrain style telescope, a Meade LX200 ACF. Piggybacked to the telescope is a 3.5-inch (8.9 cm) solar telescope, allowing the Sun to be safely observed.[3]
The observing deck has two concrete platforms where manually operated Skywatcher 12-inch (30 cm)} Dobsonian telescopes can be sited.[3]
In 2021 the observatory constructed a 5-metre (16 ft) radio telescope, which can be accessed remotely, with the intention of educating the general public about radio astronomy and assist teaching programmes in schools.[5]
Gillian Dickinson Astro-Imaging Academy
The Gillian Dickinson Astro-Imaging Academy is a separate building on the site, specifically designed for astrophotography. It contains four refracting telescopes ranging in size from 10 inches (25 cm) to 2.4 inches (6.1 cm), mainly used for imaging distant galaxies and smaller objects such as planetary nebulae.[3]
Notes
| a | Caroline was granted a royal pension of £50 a year, equivalent to about £8,500 as at 2024.[4] |
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