Alston Observatory

Alston Observatory is the public astronomy and teaching facility of the University of Central Lancashire, tucked into the countryside at Longridge near Preston, Lancashire, England.

About Alston Observatory

Run by UCLan's Jeremiah Horrocks Institute, Alston Observatory combines research-grade equipment with public outreach. Its centrepiece is the Moses Holden Telescope, a 70cm robotic instrument installed in 2015, supported by several smaller 20–30cm robotic telescopes used for teaching and observation.

History

The site also preserves the Wilfred Hall Telescope, a historic instrument dating to 1894, alongside its modern robotic equipment — a link between Victorian amateur astronomy and today's automated observing.

Telescopes & research

Alongside the Moses Holden Telescope, the observatory runs the Discovery Dome, a planetarium system seating up to 30 children or 25 adults, and hosts the "Telescopes as Time Machines" exhibition, funded by the Royal Astronomical Society, which explains how looking into space means looking back in time.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits at Longridge, Preston, Lancashire (PR3 3BP), in open countryside away from Preston's town-centre lighting — good conditions for both teaching sessions and public stargazing evenings.

Visiting Alston Observatory

Public access is by pre-booked visit only. To arrange a session, contact the observatory directly at [email protected] before travelling, since sessions are timetabled around teaching and weather.

See your named star from here

After you name a star, its RA/Dec coordinates are yours to keep. Staff and instruments at a facility like Alston Observatory can be pointed at those exact coordinates on a clear night. Check the star catalogue to see what's already been named.