Astronomy Festival
August 30 & 31 and September 1 2024: Whether just for a day or for the whole weekend come and join us and soak up the fantastic atmosphere of our fabulous Science Centre and Observatory. Lots of fun for families and keen astronomers alike!
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It's our 20th Festival!
This year, for our 20th festival, we are reducing the price of admission into the festival. It will be the same price as admission on regular (non-festival) days and we are also opening 10am - 5.30pm on Friday. You can book individual sessions or weekend registration as follows:
Individual Sessions: Go to the regular admissions booking page to purchase day time sessions Here or for Stargazing Evenings (Friday and Saturday Evenings) book here Stargazing.
Weekend Registration: Weekend registration can be purchased using the book online button at the top of this page. Weekend registration entitles you to admission from 2.30pm on Friday afternoon until 5pm on Sunday afternoon (when The Centre is open) Please note: when you make the booking you can only select 30 August from the calendar and it will say 2.30pm to 5.30pm but it does mean 2.30pm on Friday to 5pm on Sunday). This means you will have 3 hours extra in The Centre before we close from 5.30pm - 6.30pm to re-set for the evening session. If you purchase weekend registration you will receive a wristband to wear throughout the weekend which you must show when you go through reception. If you want to come in before 2.30pm then you can purchase separate tickets for session 1 as above (individual sessions instructions). Weekend registration DOES NOT include lecture tickets, camping or planetarium tickets.
Camping: You can purchase camping either with or without purchasing weekend registration using the book online button at the top of this page. Purchasing camping does not entitle you to admission into The Centre. You will need to either purchase weekend registration or admission to individual sessions as above.
'Our Night Sky' Photography competition
For our 20th Festival we are running a night sky photography competition. Find out more
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Provisional Programme of Activities
Subject to change.
Lecture Tickets
Lecture tickets can be purchased at the festival only and will be on sale from Friday 30 August.
More information about the lectures coming soon!
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Session 1: (10am - 5.30pm)
- Telescope Talks
- Planetarium shows (£2 per person)
- All the usual spectacular science exhibits and exhibitions
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Session 2: Friday (6.30pm - 11.00pm) 'Stargazing Evening'
- 7.30pm: FREE opening lecture.
- Viewing through the telescopes (weather permitting)
- Viewing through the smaller telescopes with amateur astronomy societies (weather permitting).
- Newton's Bar
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Session 3: Saturday Day (10am - 5.30pm)
- Five lectures throughout the day (£4 per person per lecture). This includes an extra lecture in Dome B by astro-imager Nik Syzmanek
- Telescope talks in Dome E
- Planetarium shows (£2 per person)
- Trade stands
- Astronomy Society stands
- Solar Observing (weather permitting)
- Raffle
- Newton's Bar
- All the usual spectacular science exhibits and exhibitions
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Session 4: Saturday (6.30pm - 11pm) 'Stargazing Evening'
- 8pm Pub Quiz with Steve Collingwood
- Viewing through the historic telescopes (weather permitting)
- Viewing through smaller telescopes with amateur astronomy societies (weather permitting)
- Newton's Bar
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Session 5: Sunday (10am - 5pm)
- Three lectures throughout the day (£4 per person per lecture)
- Telescope talks in Dome E
- Family Workshops
- Planetarium shows (£2 per person)
- Trade stands
- Astronomy Society stands
- Newton's Bar
- Solar Observing (weather permitting)
- Grand Prize Raffle Draw
- All the usual spectacular science exhibits and exhibitions
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Newton's Bar
Newtons Bar provided with thanks by Bucklers Hailsham.
Friday 2pm-11pm (to be confirmed)
Saturday 12-11pm
Sunday 12-4pm
There will be catering provided on the camping field and we have our own cafe and Launch Box inside The Centre.
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Camping
Camp under the backdrop of the observatory domes:
- There are a limited number of pitches so BOOK EARLY!
Friday, Saturday and Sunday (30, 31 August and 1 September) - £45 per pitch regardless of the number of nights. Allows up to 5 people per pitch.
- Size of pitch: 7.5m x 7.5m. Please note that we cannot accomodate tents, caravans or motorhomes that are larger than this pitch size. There are plenty of camping sites in the local area that would be more suitable for your needs.
- If you are bringing a caravan or motorhome with toilet facilities, please note that there will be no provision for emptying toilet waste.
- Pitches will be allocated beforehand on a first come first served basis. Please choose a pitch and make sure you let us know which pitch you have chosen in the special requirements section when you book on-line. While we endeavour to update the map on a regular basis we cannot guarantee that the pitch you choose will be available when you book. Please select an alternative as a back up. We will automatically give you your first choice if it is still available.Please note that there are different areas for families, adults only and general camping. Please select a pitch in the appropriate area for your group.
BOOKING CAMPING: Please click on Book Now and then click Weekend Registration. You can book camping without booking weekend registration by selecting add camping. Don't forget to let us know which camping pitch you would like to book.
PLEASE READ THE CAMPING RULES AND REGULATIONS BEFORE BOOKING YOUR PITCH.
- There are a limited number of pitches so BOOK EARLY!
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Please respect our request that you don't use disposable BBQs or open fires. Thank you!
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Admission Prices 2024
Weekend registration is from 2.30pm Friday afternoon. We ask you to vacate The Centre between 5.30pm and 6.30pm to allow us to re-set for the evening session. If you would like to come in before 2.30pm then please purchase separate admission for Friday 10am-5.30pm. You can pre-book for weekend registration from this page only.
If you are not coming for the whole weekend then you can pre-book for individual day time sessions here or Stargazing (Friday and Saturday evenings) from the Stargazing page.
Alternatively you can book on the day for both weekend registration and individual sessions. Please note that pre-booking is slightly cheaper than on the day.
Pre-Booked Weekend Registration
On the door Weekend Registration
Without Gift Aid
With Gift Aid
Without Gift Aid
With Gift Aid
Adult £43.80 £48.20 £46.00 £50.60 Senior £39.80 £43.80 £42.00 £46.20 Child* £35.80 £39.40 £38.00 £41.80 Family# of 4 £140.00 £154.00 £147.00 £161.80 Family# of 5 £168.00 £184.80 £177.00 £195.00 Under 4 FREE FREE FREE FREE *Children are 4-17 years inclusive
#Family tickets are maximum 2 adults in the group
With your weekend registration you will receive a wrist band which permits entry into The Centre from 2.30pm Friday afternoon until 5pm on Sunday (according to the session times listed below). Please note that the Centre closes between 5.30pm and 6.30pm on both Friday and Saturday. Weekend Registration DOES NOT include camping, lectures or planetarium shows.
We are closed on Monday 4 September.
Wrist bands are not transferable and you are required to wear your wrist band at all times. The Centre reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone who is not wearing a wrist band but who claims to have purchased weekend registration.
Opening Times (please note The Centre is not open to campers or weekend registration holders before 2.30pm unless a ticket has been purchased for session 1):
Session 1: Friday 10am - 5.30pm Day time session Session 2: Friday 6.30pm - 11pm Stargazing Evening Session 3: Saturday 10am - 5.30pm Day time session Session 4: Saturday 6.30pm - 11pm Stargazing Evening Session 5: Sunday 10am - 5pm Day time session -
Other Local Accomodation
There are plenty of campsites in the local area which will provide electrical hook-up, showers and space for larger tents or vehicles. If you do not wish to camp but require local accomodation here are a few suggestions:
Cleavers Lyng B&B
Halfway House B&B, Wartling, Herstmonceux, Hailsham, BN27 1RR 01323 833654
Big Sky Tipi luxury camping
Wartling Place B&B
Stone Acre Lodge B&B
Boreham House -
Catering Facilities
The Café
The Café serves a range of delicious refreshments including the necessary ‘wake-me-up’ caffeine from a bean-to-cup coffee machine! Located on the ground floor of the main corridor in a room that was an optical laboratory. The original marble bench forms the central table and the room has a retro 50s colour scheme.
Friday 10am - 5.00pm Friday 6.30pm - 10.30pm Saturday 10am - 5.00pm Saturday 6.30pm - 10.30pm Sunday 10am - 4.30pm The Launch Box
The Launch Box is part of our continuing investment as we strive to maintain and develop this historic site. The catering unit is located next to the lecture marquee. Menu includes Burgers, Cheese Burgers, Hot Dogs, Fries, Falafel Burgers…the menu is evolving!
Friday 12pm - 2pm to be confirmed Friday 6.30pm - 9pm subject to demand Saturday 10am - 5.00pm to be confirmed Saturday 6.30pm - 9pm subject to demand Sunday 10am - 4pm subject to demand Newton’s Bar Friday 30 August - Sunday 1 September
Newton’s Bar: Bucklers Hailsham will be selling a varied selection of Beers, Wines & Spirits to suitably refresh our Astronomy Festival visitors.
Catering Unit on camping field to be confirmed
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Astronomy Festival Enquiry
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The Observatory Science Centre is part of Science Projects Ltd, a company limited by guarantee registered in England No: 02186073 and a registered charity No: 298542. The registered office is Unit 1 Warren Farm, Steventon, Basingstoke, Hampshire UK, RG25 3BL.