Star Trekking

(scotsman) -- Stargazers in one of the darkest corners of the UK can now watch the night sky from Europe's newest observatory.

The Kielder Observatory has been built in a remote part of the vast Kielder Water and Forest Park in Northumberland. With almost no light pollution from surrounding settlements, the area has breathtaking views of the night sky.

Artist Alec Finlay has created a Star Diary to mark the launch which enables astronomers to plot star charts spanning the next 100 years. Events to look forward to include a near miss with a meteor in 2029 and the next appearance of Halley's Comet in 2061. full story