Welcome to The Observatory Science Centre

25th April 2020. The debris left behind by the comet Thatcher gives rise to the April Lyrids meteor shower. Join us for a warming curry and informative talk before heading out to try and spot some meteors (shooting stars). If the weather is good you will also have an opportunity to look through the historic telescopes, some of the largest working telescopes in the country. FULLY BOOKED

It is the 25th anniversary of The Observatory Science Centre in 2020 and we are celebrating throughout the year. Celebration Sundays will be held on the first Sunday of every month from February to November (with the exception of September). There will be different themes and activities each month but we will be showcasing just how much fun science actually is.

Join in the fun during our Bubbletastic Weekends for the early May and August Bank Holidays. The bubble show will demonstrate how to create the most spectacular bubbles and will try to find out if you can make a square bubble - is that really possible? You may also get a chance to find out what it is like to stand in a bubble. No pre-booking required and this activity is FREE with your normal admission.

Come and enjoy the fabulous atmosphere that surrounds the Observatory at night and, weather permitting look through some of the largest telescopes in the country at some extraordinary night sky objects. Don't worry if it is cloudy we have a cloudy night contingency; a fascinating planetarium style talk! No booking required.

30th May 2020: New for this year! This one day course is aimed at beginners and offers an opportunity for families to learn together. You will be introduced to the fascinating world of astronomy in an easy to understand way, learning all about what is beyond our little blue planet.

13th June 2020: Herschel to Hawkwind. This evening is dedicated to music and space. It will include a talk by Space Rock Bassist and astronomer, Peter Williamson, a sing song and Pete playing Bass at the end.

11th July 2020: This one day course is suitable for adults with a basic understanding of astronomy. Is there life beyond Earth? Over 4,000 exoplanets have been confirmed so far but what does it take for them to harbour life? What should we be looking for? Come and find out about the fascinating world of astrobiology.

4th August - full day workshop for 6-8 years old. Find out what makes things fizz, bang and pop in some crazy chemistry experiments. It's full on fun and you get to try the experiments yourself as well as watching some pretty spectacular demonstrations.

5th and 6th August - Full day workshop for 9-11 years old. Chemistry is definitely fun, especially when trying to find out what goes with a bang! Come and try some fabulous chemistry experiments and see some spectacular demonstrations.

Half day workshop for 6 - 8 year olds. What does it take to become an astronaut? We will investigate with some exciting activities to discover the challenges faced when reaching space.

Half day workshops for 6-8 year olds. Oh no a crime has been committed and we need your help to assist with an investigation!

13th August - half day workshop for 6-8 year olds. Be amazed how light and colour can make the world around us spectacular! Join us to explore a unique way of 'seeing' with specialist science equipment.

15th August. As Earth passes through the debris trail left behind by comet Swift-Tuttle, particles of space dust enter the atmosphere leaving a trail of light behind; a shooting star. Join us for an informative talk to learn more about this fascinating yearly event. If the weather is good you will also have the opportunity to view through the historic telescopes.

18th August - half day workshops for 6-8 years old: How many planets are in our solar system? Are they all the same? What makes Earth look so blue and Mars look so red? Come and find out about the planets with some amazing activities, then design and make a spacecraft to land an egg safely on the surface of another planet like Mars. You never know astronauts may go there one day.

Half day workshops for 6-8 year olds. How does such a huge rocket actually get off the ground? Why does it "break up" and where do the astronauts sit? Come and find out in this fascinating and fabulously fun workshop and you even get to build and launch your own water rocket.

20th August - half day workshops for 6-8 year olds and 9-11 year olds. Design your own simple model car and try different ways to make it move. Which is the best: gravity, balloons or batteries and propellers? Come and find out how to make your car go faster.

25th August - half day workshops for 6-8 year olds. There are some weird creatures here on Earth. They live in all sorts of strange places where humans would not survive. Could there be life beyond Earth? Would it be the same? Let's try and find out if it's possible.

26th August - Short day workshop for 9-11 years old. Sign up to produce your very own short animation to keep. You will use animation clay and craft materials to produce clay models based around the themes of space travel and astronomy. You will then work in small groups to bring your models to life and turn them into stop-motion animations; using cameras, animation software and animation theatres. There will also be the chance to add music to the animations, time permitting.

September 4th, 5th & 6th: Soak up the incredible atmosphere that surrounds our fabulous observatory. Our annual event is incredibly warm and friendly and offers a magnificent opportunity to enjoy science and astronomy in a relaxed, informal setting, whether you are coming for the whole weekend, just for the day or for an evening. BOOKINGS TAKEN FROM 1st March please phone 01323 832731

September 14th - 18th: Are you looking for something a little different to stimulate your mind? Then this may be your opportunity to try something new. You are never too old to learn and we are actively encouraging a more senior audience to participate in our talks/activities throughout the week.

16th September: This 4 week course will introduce you to the Solar System including the planets and their moons and how and why the Sun is so important to us. Suitable for those with little or no knowledge of the subject.

This new 5 week course is just above beginner level, aimed at those with a basic understanding of astronomy. It will go beyond our Solar System and introduce you to stars, galaxies and cosmology.

October 17th a NEW event for 2020: Reserved exclusively for adults only, this Stargazing Evening includes a hot drink and an opportunity to experience a presentation in our fantastic inflatable planetarium. Weather permitting you will be able to look through some of the largest telescopes in the country and translate what you see in the planetarium onto the night sky.

A fantastic opportunity to learn how to navigate your way around the night sky using the constellations as your guide. Taught in one of our domes under the backdrop of a historic telescope and outside under the stars, you will learn how to recognise star patterns and find out more about the mythologies behind them.

14th November. The debris left behind by the comet Tempel-Tuttle gives rise to the Leonids meteor shower. Join us for a warming curry and informative talk before heading out to try and spot some meteors (shooting stars). If the weather is good you will also have an opportunity to look through the historic telescopes, some of the largest working telescopes in the country.

The course is a mix of classroom based teaching in one of the domes and practical hands-on teaching outdoors so you can learn how to use your telescope. Members of East Sussex Astronomical Society will guide you through setting up your telescope and getting the best out of it. Weather permitting they will also start you on your way to viewing the night sky.