Astronomy Centre

High in the Pennine hills above Todmorden, the Astronomy Centre is a community-run observatory where amateur astronomers open their domes to the public on most Saturday nights of the year.

About the Astronomy Centre

Also known as the Amateur Astronomy Centre, this observatory in northern England is run entirely by experienced amateur astronomers and welcomes visitors at scheduled times. It occupies the site of a former factory high in the Pennines, chosen for its dark, open skies away from town lights.

History

The centre was founded in November 1982 by Peter Drew, Linda Simonian and Rob Miller, who converted the disused factory site into an astronomical facility for members, schools, local community groups and visiting stargazers.

Telescopes & research

The site has several permanently mounted telescopes for public and member use, ranging up to a 30-inch Dobsonian reflector alongside smaller instruments including an 8-inch refractor. Daytime sessions use a camera obscura and safely filtered telescopes for solar viewing.

Location & getting there

The centre sits above Todmorden, on the West Yorkshire side of the Lancashire border, in the South Pennines - an elevated, rural spot with noticeably darker skies than the towns below.

Visiting the Astronomy Centre

Public open nights run every Saturday evening from 7:30pm until late, all year round, with additional afternoon openings from 3pm to 6pm on most days during June, July and August for solar viewing. There is no fixed admission charge, though a small donation is appreciated. Sessions depend on weather and volunteer availability, so check the centre's website before setting out.

See your named star from here

Bring the coordinates of a named star from the Star Register catalogue to an open night here, and the centre's astronomers can help point one of their telescopes toward it.