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Welcome To

The Astronomy Centre

"Dedicated to the furtherance of Amateur Astronomy"



The Astronomy Centre is a major resource for both amateur astronomers and the general public. Based above Todmorden in the North West of England, we have facilities and on-site equipment for both members and visitors, plus remote access via the Internet for members.

The site offers a good compromise providing a reasonably dark site, while remaining close to the major conurbations of Manchester and Leeds.

The Observatory is open to the public every Saturday evening from 7:30pm onwards. Visitors are advised to wrap up warmly, with sensible footwear, as the site can get very cold at any time of year. There is a nominal charge for non-member visitors of £2 per person (£1 for children and concessions), though further donations are always welcome! Groups visits can also be made at other times by arrangement.

Please park on the lower plateau, next to the caravans. Access for unloading of telescopes etc. and disabled parking is available at the highest point of the site, next to the main dome. Further details are on our Location Information Page.

Membership of the Centre is £15 per year, which allows full access to the Web Site, including the discussion forums, full-resolution images from the 'scope cameras etc. See the Membership Page for more details.

The pictures above show an aerial view of the main observatory, beside images of the Moon, M42 in Orion and one of the Meade 16" telescopes. For scale, the main dome is about 8.5m (28ft) in diameter.


 Membership: It is that time of year again........

NewsJust a reminder that it is time to renew your membership. Have you considered setting up a standing order to save you having to remember?

Posted by keith_barker on Friday, March 30 @ 20:28:33 BST (114 reads)
 (Read More... | Membership | Score: 0)

 News: Stargazing Live 2012 events

Events on the site

The Observatory will be open at additional times during the BBC Stargazing Live 2012 broadcasts.


On Saturday 14 and Saturday 21 January there will be an opportunity for solar observing between noon and 3pm. The normal evening sessions will start at 7pm.

On Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 January both 16" reflectors, the 8" refractor and a number of smaller telescopes and binoculars suitable for beginners will be available. Also, various members will be making presentations and providing guided tours of the observatory.

Members can contact Peter, Andy and David via the usual channels for further details, or to offer their help for the various sessions.

Visitors should register as described on the webpage BBC Stargazing Live 2012 events and they will receive more information.


Weather updates


1)
Saturday 14 and Monday 16 will be very cold with generally clear skies, although there may be occasional periods of haziness on the horizon (especially to the east).
There will be cloudier conditions moving in from the west on Tuesday 17 and this will lead to slightly less cold observing conditions with the possibility of interruptions to the sessions if the cloud is unbroken.

2)
The warm front moving in from the west on Tuesday 17 is likely to arrive slightly earlier than predicted on Friday. There is a moderate chance of the outdoor sessions being disrupted by unbroken cloud.
Early indications are for snow on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 January.

3)
The forecast for tonight is for generally cloudy skies with occasional breaks. There will be a moderate to strong westerly breeze which may prevent use of the smaller domes on the site.

Posted by david_clapham on Saturday, January 07 @ 21:48:46 GMT (308 reads)
 (Read More... | News | Score: 0)

 Solar observatory

NewsWork has started............... offers of help for various tasks needed.

25/07/11 Foundations being laid.

26/07/11 Foundations finished

27/07/11 Pier installed

28/07/11 Pier modified for EQ6

04/08/11 Trench dug for electrics, LAN and video cables

01/11/11 Dismantled observatory at Farm (except floor), ready to transport up to site

02/11/11 Floor dismantled and brought to site, floor frame assembled on foundations

03/11/11 All parts moved from farm to site, servicing of door runners started.

04/11/11 Door runners all serviced

09/11/11 Base drilled and fixed to foundations

10/11/11 Corner uprights re-fixed back in position

14/11/11 Onwards - cleaning of parts ready for assembly

21/11/11 Removal of outside paint continues!

26/03/12 Well after a long break good weather has allowed us to start re-assembly

30/03/12 Assembly went well, we are now 'fettling' got a temporary power supply connected

14/05/12 Flooring ordered

15/05/12 Flooring arrived, one side varnished

16/05/12 Finished varnishing floor, polythene laid to stop moisture under floor

17/05/12 CAT6 cables to main dome laid, floor laid and secured


Posted by keith_barker on Wednesday, July 27 @ 12:41:55 BST (652 reads)
 (Read More... | Score: 0)

 News: Peter's personal new web site

NewsPeter now has his own web site at http://pdrew.co.uk/

Posted by keith_barker on Wednesday, July 27 @ 12:11:45 BST (570 reads)
 (Read More... | News | Score: 0)

 Partial Solar Eclipse - Tuesday 4 January 2011

News

Created - 00:55


Unfortunately, the latest weather forecast is for cloud.
Various members will be making observations at home and any images which are captured will be shared through the usual channels.

Update - 10:20


Thick cloud following overnight snowfall obscured the skies to the south-east of Blackburn, Accrington and Clitheroe. Reports from observers in the Rochdale, Halifax and Bradford areas are still to be received.

Update - 8 January


Further reports from members east of the Pennines indicate that conditions were poor across the whole region.


Please forward a short note about any observations that you managed to make to the Research & Education Group.

Posted by david_clapham on Monday, January 03 @ 23:58:23 GMT (957 reads)
 (Read More... | Score: 0)

 Star Party: Spring Star Party - 2010

Events on the site

Spring 2010 Star Party Program

The Spring 2010 Star Party was held on Saturday May 1st. The programme of events was as follows:

12:00Doors Open
12:30 - 13:15Registration
13:15 - 14:15Our active SunProf. Philippa Browning, Manchester University
14:15 - 14:45Break
14:45 - 15:45My (short) career as a Radio AstronomerRod Hine, MA Cantab
15:45 - 16:45Rev Dr William Pearson - Founder of the RASMike Frost
16:45 - 17:15Break
17:15 - 18:15The construction of large amateur telescopesDave Owen, Liverpool AS


Posted by dave_wylie on Tuesday, May 04 @ 12:51:37 BST (1281 reads)
 (Read More... | Star Party | Score: 0)

 Progress at the site

Newspeter_drew writes "The rotating "half cylinder" dome for the remaining on-site peripheral observatory is now in the final stages of construction. This observatory will house the long awaited re-appearance of the 8.5" F12 refractor. Weather prmitting, it is hoped that completion will be early next year, in time for the best views of Saturn and ready for events during International Year of Astronomy 2009. The housing for the 12" reflecting binocular telescope is also virtually complete and again is waiting for some suitable weather conditions to install it. In the early days of the Astronomy Centre we had a Camera Obscura on site. This proved immensely popular with visitors, particularly children. A replacement instrument is well under way and will be fitted near the top of the main observatory dome. This Camera Obscura will be manually operated to give that "hands on" appeal. The main lens is 8" diameter operating at around F25. The viewing table is 2 metres diameter making it one of the largest image presentation units in operation. On a good sunny day it will give spectacular views of the surrounding countryside in full living colour. Astronomically, it will be possible to project the image of the Sun revealing whatever sunspot activity is going on at the time."

Posted by dave_wylie on Tuesday, May 04 @ 12:42:25 BST (1184 reads)
 (Read More... | Score: 0)

 Projects: Joint project with the Lancashire Council of Mosques.

News

Determining the time of darkness in mid-summer at medium to high latitudes.

The Research and Education Group are assisting scholars and clerics from the Lancashire Council of Mosques to determine the extent of full darkness at the latitude of East Lancashire. This move has been precipitated by the slow regression of the holy month of Ramadan into mid-summer, due to the 354 day lunar-solar year.

It is hoped that the study will provide accurate information upon which the scholars can timetable the Islamic prayers which occur close to the end of Evening Nautical Twilight and the beginning of Morning Nautical Twilight.

Any members who are at a fully dark site on a cloudless evening or morning are asked to record the moment at which the faint horizon glow begins to form a concave pyramidical spike - or when that spike collapses before dawn - and to pass the timings to David C.

Posted by david_clapham on Monday, July 27 @ 22:45:09 BST (1977 reads)
 (Read More... | Projects | Score: 0)

 News: IYA2009 Launch

Events on the site

IYA2009 Launch


Due to forecast heavy snow this event has been cancelled.

The Astronomy Centre's first event to mark UNESCO's International Year of Astronomy 2009 will take place on Saturday 24 January 2009.

Roger O'Brien of the Open University will present a talk called "Twinkle, Twinkle, little star", which will be followed by a hands-on observing session.

During this, visitors will be introduced to views of the sky through a wide range of instruments, guided by experienced members of local societies.

More details will follow shortly.

Posted by david_clapham on Tuesday, January 06 @ 18:20:26 GMT (2009 reads)
 (Read More... | News | Score: 0)

 Star Party: Spring Star Party 2008

Events on the site

Star Party - Saturday 12th April

The Astronomy Centre Spring Star Party was held on Saturday 12th April 2008. The event was a huge success, with 75 members and guests attending. The talks were held on the top floor of the observatory, which was completely packed out. A video and audio feed was provided down to the first floor, so that the attendees who couldn't squeeze in upstairs didn't miss out.

Everyone who came along seemed very pleased with the day. There was even a gap in the clouds just after sunset to allow a brief Lunar observing session with the 16" GOTO Meade.

The full schedule from the day is available here.

Please send any enquiries about Star Parties to starparty@astronomycentre.org.uk.


Posted by dave_wylie on Thursday, January 31 @ 10:37:31 GMT (6376 reads)
 (Read More... | 2083 bytes more | Star Party | Score: 4)

August 29th 2009 Star Party

Star Party running order -,

12.30 - 1.15 Registration

1.15 - 1.30 Opening address

1.30 - 2.30 David Ratledge - "Advances in Digital Photography"

2.30 - 3.00 break

3.00 - 4.00 Prof Sam Falle - "Supernovae"

4.00 - 5.00 tea break

5.00 - 6.00 Kevin Kilburn " Old Moon, New Look"

6.00 - 6.30 break

6.30 - Members Session

Peter Drew "Hydrogen-alpha Solar Observing"

Gurbir Singh "Astronomical Podcasting"

Observing thereafter, if clear!


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