Isle of Man observatory

High above the village of Foxdale on the Isle of Man, the Isle of Man Observatory gives islanders and visitors a chance to look through a serious amateur telescope under some of the darkest skies in the British Isles.

About Isle of Man Observatory

The observatory is run by the Isle of Man Astronomical Society, a volunteer group founded in 1989 to bring astronomy to the island. It sits at around 195 metres above sea level in the hills near Foxdale, well away from the light pollution of Douglas.

History

Members began building the observatory in April 1999, and its dome was fitted on 17 April that year. The facility opened in November 2000 and, in August 2023, was renamed in honour of the society's late founder.

Telescopes & research

The main instrument is a 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain (SCT) catadioptric telescope on an equatorial mounting, housed in a purpose-built dome with an attached meeting room used for talks and society gatherings.

Location & getting there

The observatory lies in the parish of Foxdale, in the hilly interior of the Isle of Man, United Kingdom — a short drive from Douglas and Peel, in an area valued for its dark, rural night skies.

Visiting Isle of Man Observatory

The site is used for public observation sessions run by the Isle of Man Astronomical Society. Opening nights depend on weather and the society's calendar, so check the observatory's own website before travelling out.

See your named star from here

If you have named a star with Star Register, the observatory's telescope can be aimed at its exact right ascension and declination on a clear night. Explore our star-naming packages or browse the catalogue to find a star you can point to from a dark Manx hillside.