Other outdoor exhibits in our beautiful grounds explore the themes of sound, nature and shadows.
Try sending a whispered message to a friend over 30 metres away; they will be sure to pick it up loud and clear. Then there is the lithophone; use the hammers to hit the stone and see if you can play some rock music! People have been using rocks to make music throughout antiquity and this is your chance to play a tune on the fabulous ‘black granite’ bars.
Nature is all around you at the Observatory; after all you are in the East Sussex countryside. Our stunning flower beds have been planted to attract pollinators including bees. Have a go at our Bee Path Game and see how many flowers you can visit within the limits of the length of the string. The string represents the limit of the bee’s range of travel. Within their limited travel range bees try and visit as many flowers as possible to gather pollen and nectar to take back to the hive.
Finally we explore the path of the Sun and the shadow it makes behind the metal rod (gnomon). The shadow length changes throughout the year as seen by the lines on the exhibit. When the Sun is higher in the sky in summer the shadows appear shorter.
