FAQ - Observatory Science Centre & Museum

Astronomy Festival Camping Info

01/05/2026

FAQ

If you’re booking a Total Eclipse pass for the astronomy festival, you will need to read our terms and conditions and sign the code of conduct. Please let us know which camping pitch you would like and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Parking Information

03/02/2026

FAQ

There are 5 Blue Badge bays available at the back of the science centre building next to the ramped entrance. The parking field is open as of 28th March 2026. When the weather has been particularly wet, we open the Wartling Road car park. This is a large, free car park on Wartling Road before

How do you pronounce Herstmonceux?

04/07/2025

FAQ

As with most place names there is a ‘correct’ pronunciation amongst local people and Herstmonceux is no exception. Herst is the Saxon name for a wooded hill, and the manor is mentioned in the Domesday Book as being part of the land belonging to the Count of Eu. In 1131 the Count’s grandson transferred the

I’ve had a star named after me! Can I see it through a telescope?

03/07/2025

FAQ

This is always a difficult question. It very much depends on where the star is and how bright it is. Many of the stars are far too faint and distant making it extremely difficult to pinpoint. To avoid disappointment therefore we do not usually offer to locate such stars with our telescopes. Do you offer

Has the Hubble telescope made earthbound telescopes redundant?

02/07/2025

FAQ

Not at all. Space telescopes fulfil a very important role but they cannot be made as large as ground based telescopes due to weight and the cost of getting them into space. The wider the diameter of a telescope the better light gathering ability it has and the more detail it can resolve. At the

Who uses the telescopes at Herstmonceux now?

01/07/2025

FAQ

While the telescopes are not being used scientifically for research purposes they are open to the public on our open evenings which are usually held during the Autumn, Winter and Spring with one or two exceptions in the summer. They are also open on our special themed evening events which take place throughout the year. You

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