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The
Observatory has been operating since 1975, allowing the public to view
the night sky through a 2 metre long telescope with a 31 cm diameter mirror.
See the STARS and PLANETS like you've never seen them before, or walk around the beautiful garden surrounding the Observatory. |
| Construction
started in 1974 by a retired farmer Mr Jack Estens. Jack had no formal
training in astronomy but had been a keen amateur since Pluto's discovery
in 1930!
He built his own 8" Newtonian Reflector, grinding the mirrors and making the rest from old bits and pieces from his farm!! The
Observatory is surrounded by a lovely garden. There are over 80 roses in
the garden of a variety of colours and scents. From Spring until Autumn,
the roses provide a colourful welcome to visitors of the Observatory.
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This
is one of the prettiest settings for an observatory. The garden has been
lovingly cared for by the original builders of the observatory, Jack and
Margaret Estens.
Margaret
spent hours tending her garden with pleasant surprises to be discovered
walking around the plants and paths.
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| The Observatory also houses a fantastic display of Meteorites, as well as an excellent collection of rocks, fossils and wildflowers. | |
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The Observatory has a sister Observatory in Denmark. A group of visiting astronomers several years ago where so impressed they built one the same as this! |