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, where people go to look at the stars and planets. It sits on a hill called Black Fell, with a great view of Kielder Water, close to the border with Scotland. You can reach it by following a forest path from a cool art installation called James Turrell's Kielder Skyspace.
The building itself is very unique! It was designed by Charles Barclay Architects from London after they won a special competition. The observatory uses solar panels and a wind turbine for its power, making it very eco-friendly. It even won important awards for its design, like the RIBA Award and a Civic Trust Award, both in 2009.
The Kielder Observatory is run by the Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society. This group is a registered charity. They have a team of staff who help teach people about space and astronomy.
Contents
Looking at the Stars: A Brief History
Kielder Forest was a popular spot for stargazing even before the observatory was built. People would gather there for an annual event called the Kielder Forest Star Camp. An amateur astronomer named Gary Fildes, who was part of the Star Camp, dreamed of building a proper observatory in the forest. He led a big effort that raised a lot of money to make it happen.
The Kielder Observatory officially opened its doors on April 25, 2008. Sir Arnold Wolfendale, who was the 14th Astronomer Royal, helped open it. In its first year, about 1,200 people visited. By 2014, the observatory had nearly 20,000 visitors, making it one of the most popular places to visit in Northumberland!
In 2018, the observatory grew bigger. It added the Gillian Dickinson Astroimaging Academy. This new part helps people learn how to take amazing pictures of space. The observatory also works with schools across the region. They have a project that teaches students about astronomy. In 2019, they received funding to expand these educational programs.
In 2021, the observatory added a special 5-meter (16 ft) radio antenna. This was given by the Tanlaw Foundation. This new antenna helps teach people about Radio Astronomy. This is a way of studying space by listening to radio waves from objects like stars and galaxies.
In 2023, one of the main telescopes was renamed the Caroline Herschel Observatory. This was done to honor Caroline Herschel, a famous astronomer who made many important discoveries. A special plaque was revealed by local author LJ Ross.
Meet the Team: Science Communicators
The observatory has a team of experts who love to share their knowledge about space. They are astronomers and astrophysicists who help visitors understand the universe.
- Dan Pye – Director of Astronomy and Science Communication
- Daniel Monk – Director of the Gillian Dickinson Astro-imaging Academy
- Eleanor Macdonald – Science Lead
- Adam Shore – Education Lead
Awards and Recognition
The Kielder Observatory has won several awards for being a great place to visit and for its educational 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
