Stargazing Evenings 2026
Stargazing Evenings at The Observatory are the best way to experience the natural wonders of the night sky. It may be the Moon or the planets (if they are visible) or it may be deeper sky objects; looking through a telescope is awe inspiring!
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Don’t worry if the weather is cloudy, this is still a great opportunity to learn more about astronomy, The Observatory and see a planetarium show with our Astronomy team.
What to expect:
While gates usually open at 6.30pm (unless otherwise specified) you do not have to be there at 6.30pm. The evening is free flowing around The Centre and there are no set times for anything. When you arrive at reception you will be told about what is available on the evening and there will be tannoy announcements throughout the evening to keep you informed about which telescopes are open and how to access them. If we do have to resort to the cloudy night contingency (see below) then there will be more than one talk and these usually do not start before about 7.30pm (or at least 1 hour after opening) to allow time for visitors to get to The Centre. However, it is recommended that you arrive before 8.30pm (or 2 hours after gates open depending on the date you are attending) on a cloudy night to take advantage of the planetarium shows.
The indoor exhibits will be available to explore but for Health and Safety reasons the outdoor exhibits will not be available and the Discovery Park will be closed during the hours of twilight and darkness.
If the weather is not suitable to look through the telescopes (cloudy, rainy or foggy), we do not cancel Stargazing Evenings because we offer a cloudy night contingency plan. This is usually a talk all about the night sky which in itself is a fantastic and fascinating experience, immersing you in the Universe with explanations of what you are seeing and hopping across the sky to various objects and looking at the different constellations. While the telescopes will not be operational on cloudy/wet nights, or if the wind is too strong, the observatories are open and you can chat freely to the very knowledgeable amateur astronomers and ask those burning questions you always wanted answers to.
Stargazing evenings are suitable for families unless it is specifically an adults only evening. However, we would recommend that children are 7 years and older. NOT suitable for very young children. NOT SUITABLE FOR PUSHCHAIRS OR BUGGIES.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
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Essential Information
Please read the information regarding accessibility and health & safety here
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Stargazing Evenings 2026 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.