Kielder Observatory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kielder Observatory |
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Kielder Observatory
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| Organization | Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society | ||||||||||||||||
| Location | Kielder Forest, Northumberland, England | ||||||||||||||||
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Coordinates
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55°13′55″N 2°36′58.5″W / 55.23194°N 2.616250°W
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| Altitude | 370 m (1,214 ft) | ||||||||||||||||
| Established | 2008 | ||||||||||||||||
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The Kielder Observatory is a special place in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, England. It sits on a hill called Black Fell, looking over Kielder Water. This spot is very close to the border with Scotland. You can reach it by walking a short path through the forest from a cool art installation called James Turrell's Kielder Skyspace.
The observatory building itself is quite unique. Its design was chosen through a competition, and a company called Charles Barclay Architects won. The building is eco-friendly, getting its power from solar panels and a wind turbine. It even won awards for its design in 2009, like the RIBA Award and a Civic Trust Award.
The Kielder Observatory is run by a group called the Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society. This group is a registered charity. They have a team of staff who help teach people about space and run fun events.
Contents
Discovering the Kielder Observatory's Story
Before the observatory was built, Kielder Forest was already a popular spot for looking at stars. People would gather there for an event called the Kielder Forest Star Camp every year. An amateur astronomer named Gary Fildes, who was part of the Star Camp, really wanted an observatory to be built in the forest.
He led a big effort to raise money, and they collected hundreds of thousands of pounds to pay for the building. The Kielder Observatory officially opened on April 25, 2008. Sir Arnold Wolfendale, a famous astronomer, was there for the opening. In its first year, about 1,200 people visited. By 2014, nearly 20,000 people came to the observatory, making it a top place to visit in Northumberland!
In 2018, the observatory grew bigger. They added a new part called the Gillian Dickinson Astroimaging Academy. This area is for learning how to take amazing pictures of space.
The observatory also helps schools in the area. They have special programs that teach students about astronomy. In 2019, they received funding to expand these educational activities to more schools.
In 2021, the observatory added a new type of telescope. It's a 5-meter (16 ft) radio antenna, which was given by the Tanlaw Foundation. This new antenna helps teach people about Radio Astronomy, which is a way to study space using radio waves instead of light.
In 2023, one of the main telescopes was given a new name. It's now called the Caroline Herschel Observatory. This was done to honor Caroline Herschel, a very important woman in science and astronomy. A local author, LJ Ross, helped unveil a special plaque for the renaming.
Meet the Astronomy Team
The people who work at Kielder Observatory are experts in space. They include astronomers and astrophysicists who love to share their knowledge.
- Dan Pye – He is the Director of Astronomy and Science Communication.
- Daniel Monk – He leads the Gillian Dickinson Astro-imaging Academy.
- Eleanor Macdonald – She is the Science Lead.
- Adam Shore – He is the Education Lead.
Awards and Recognition
Kielder Observatory has won several awards for being a great place to visit and for its work.
- Northumberland What's On Where Award 2015 – Best Visitor Attraction
- North East Tourism Awards 2014 – Small Visitor Attraction (Silver Award)
- Visit England Gold Award 2013 – Kielder Water Forest Park
See also
- List of observatories
