© Galloway Astronomy Centre 2023 All images are copyright – M Alexander unless otherwise stated
About Us
The
idea
of
having
a
place
in
Dumfries
&
Galloway
where
anyone
can
stay
to
learn
Astronomy
was
turned
into
reality
by
Mike
&
Helen
Alexander
through
2003.
With
a
working
title
“2000
Acres
of
Dark
Sky”
it
was
officially
named
the
Galloway
Astronomy
Centre
once
a
suitable
location
had
been
found.
We
welcomed
the
first visitors in February 2004.
Initially,
we
concentrated
on
giving
our
guests
a
tour
of
the
night
sky
and
offering
advice
on
buying
binoculars
and
telescopes,
but
soon
afterwards
we
developed
several
courses
mainly
tailored
for
the beginner.
The
next
logical
step
from
just
giving
advice
on
telescopes
was
to
sell
them
too.
We
have
worked
with
Optical
Vision
Ltd
for
many
years
selling
their
wide
range
of
Skywatcher
telescopes
and
accessories.
A
few
years
ago
we
were
approached
by
Celestron
in
the UK to be an astronomy specialist and sell their products.
The
awarding
of
the
Galloway
Forest
as
the
UK’s
first
Dark
Sky
Park
certainly
put
Galloway
on
the
Astronomical
map
and
as
the
only
observatory
open
to
the
public
in
Dumfries
&
Galloway
greatly increased our profile.
Now
we
regularly
welcome
visitors
not
only
from
across
the
UK,
but
around
the
world
too,
each
looking
to
experience
the
beauty
of
a
Galloway
night
sky.
Our
visitors
are
able
to
enjoy
the
unique
opportunity
of
being
guided
through
the
wonders
of
night
sky
at
an
observatory
and
have
a
warm
bed
just
a
short
distance
away.
All at one of the darkest locations within the UK.
Our
trusty
16”
Newtonian
reflector
still
remains
our
main
instrument
used
during
the
tours,
although
we
had
added
other
telescopes for astro-imaging and as demonstration models.
Whenever
possible
our
night
sky
tours
are
tailor
made
to
meet
your level of experience and interests.
So
like
many
others
over
the
past
19
years,
come
and
experience
for
yourself
our
friendly,
informal
hospitality
and
truly
wonderful
dark skies.
“It’s the best view I’ve ever had” - Prof Ian Morison (Jodrell Bank)