About
This event will begin with a personal welcome from experienced astronomer, Gary Fildes.
After the welcome, Gary and the team will escort you into a new state of the art classroom, which has a high definition (HD) projection system, and you will be taken on a whistle stop tour of the Universe. Following this, you will be split into groups and, weather depending, start observing the sky, with an array of telescopes and cameras.
A fun-filled night, with stunning graphics handouts, experiments, and stargazing, with our advanced array of instruments. Expert tuition from Gary and his team of astronomers, as we take you on a journey of the heart and soul.
On certain nights throughout the year, we may even see the Aurora Borealis from Grassholme. It's visible in these skies, but the conditions have to be right to see them and those conditions can be very rare indeed. Whilst we cannot guarantee you will see them, and to be honest, you probably won't, we can guarantee that you will leave well equipped on how you can spot them in future, and what exactly they are.
On summer evenings, from June to early August onwards, we may even glimpse other atmospheric phenomena, such as noctilucent or night shining clouds. During this time of year, our northerly latitude prohibits the true dark skies, as a twilight gives the sky a beautiful hue.
Get wrapped up - it can get chilly when we are outside!
During your visit we will be employing recommendations issued by our health and safety team to ensure your safety. These will mean using hand sanitisers and face masks when inside the classroom. We also operate a one way system of access and egress at the facility, we thank you in advance for your compliance in keeping us all safe
This is a pet free event, so please don't bring any furry friends!
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Find out what's happening this Christmas, from the traditional Durham Christmas Festival to the annual panto and festive craft workshops.
