AN observatory in upper Teesdale has seen a huge increase in popularity in the past year.
The observatory, at Grassholme Reservoir, has become a regular venue for astronomers in the North-East and is hosting events most weeks now the dark nights are beginning to close in.
Gary Fildes, former chief officer of the Kielder Observatory, is the lead astronomer at the site and is welcoming increasing numbers of visitors to the dale observatory, near Mickleton.
Having opened in 2020 before being forced to close its doors until August 2021 due to Covid, Mr Fildes said attendances in the last 12 months have been up 68 per cent.
Mr Fildes said: “We do a small tutorial in the classroom before visitors get hands-on using the telescopes. We have the individual telescopes as well as our main robotic.”
The robotic telescope resembles something from a science fiction movie and is a research-graded instrument that offers budding astronomers state-of-the-art equipment through which to view the stars at night.
Mr Fildes said: “We are looking to develop a visitor attraction that can be as popular as the Kielder Observatory.
“Astronomy is a great resource for tourism and to attract people to the area. When we first opened nobody knew who we were, but we still got a lot of interest from people.
“Once more visitors started coming, we gathered some momentum and through word of mouth more than anything we have continued to build.”
He added: “We are regularly getting 60 to 70 people a week and cater for all kinds of groups. We’re getting great attendance and it’s really positive” .
This Friday Mr Fildes is hosting an Orionids Meteor Shower event at the observatory.
For more information visit www.grassholmeobservatory. com.
In addition, there are more than a dozen events at the observatory as part of this year’s North Pennines Stargazing Festival, which runs from Friday through to November 4.
Booking is required and full details are available at go to www.northpennines.org.uk.
