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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Q. Do we come at night if it's cloudy?
- If its raining, no, but if the skies look 'iffy' just call the observatory an hour or two before the starting time so we can give you a 'heads up' as to how the weather is at Maidenwell. If the night is clear when you arrive and the skies cloud up later on during your night show, we adjourn into the Star Theatre to finish the session off. There is no refunds.
Q. What do you do at night before looking through your big telescopes?
- We start the program with a short video in the Star Theatre of how a star is formed before we move outside onto the sports field for a 'Tour of the Night Sky' using a registered green laser pointer to point out various constellations, stars and planets. Once done, we move onto the Observation Deck and get you seated ready for your journey into the Cosmos. After you are seated on our super duper soft comfy seating, basic instructions are given about using the instruments and how to use your eye to observe through the telescope. Once the red lights are turned off you are in pitch darkness, the music starts and on cue, the big roof starts to slid back over your head to reveal the starry skies above.
Q. What do we get to see in the telescopes?
- Depending on what time of year it is, each season has many different things to observe. On moonless nights you get to see to see Open and Globular star clusters some bright Nebulae and maybe a galaxy or two. On the Moon nights you get to see the Moon up very close in the telescopes and any planets if they are up. Saturn is generally seen in the fist half of each year with Jupiter in the last half. Winter is best for the Milky Way, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Carina and Summer is best for Orion and the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.
Q. If I wear reading glasses do I use them?
- No. Reading glasses are just for that. Take them off and use your eyes. Only those who wear glasses for long distance vision must leave those types of glasses on, as the telescopes will be focused for 20-20 vision.
Q. Is it hard to look through your big telescopes?
- No. As a matter of fact, they are much easier than many realise. Each telescope has its own height adjusting pier that can raise and lower the scopes to the height of any observer, including those in wheelchairs. Each telescope has a small kitchen typwe ladder to lean on that helps to steady oneself when looking through the eyepiece. If you touch and move the telescope, it will have to be reset, meaning you will be without a telescope for 5 minutes until it is reset by the astronomer. So the bottom line is... Don't touch the telescopes!
Q. Will I be entertained?
- To a point, yes, but our astronomer has so much passion for his job, it will excite you more and more to share this passion for the stars. It is no wonder so many keep coming back to feel this passion and learn more about the Cosmos.
Q. When is the best times to star gaze?
- Any night that is cloud-free and that is within the dates you see in the Moon/Planets tab on left in Menu. We do not take nor operate on nights close to, on and a after, a Full Moon because of its strong light which 'drowns out' many constellations and stars, makinmg it hard to glimpse Deep Sky objects.
Q. What do I need to bring on my observing night?
- At night no matter what time of year it is, you will be sitting out in the cold night air. Even in Summer, it can still get a bit cool out in the rural sector particularly for those who come from the coast, as they do not experience rural weather. Average night temp. in Summer is about 15 Deg.C and in Winter about 5 C.
Q. What is the main attraction in the Day Session?
- To begin, you are shown a 10 minute video about the Sun which shows and explains in graphic form, the Solar 11-year cycle, Solar Prominences, Flares and Sunspots and how these violent electro-magnetic storms affect Earth and how Auroras form. Then providing the day is sunny you will see a LIVE video image of the Sun's surface projected onto a big screen from our Solar Telescope outside in the white dome. On the screen you will see these Solar Prominences and Sunspots just like it was in the video. This is followed by other short video clips about the Solar System and the Universe. All this take an hour.
Q. Will all my questions be answered re astronomy?
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We only answer what we know. We explain a lot of the technical stuff using simple basic analogies to explain a Light Year, the size of our Milky Way galaxy, how small is small and how big is big, etc..
Q. Do I get to anything to take away to remind me of my visit?
- The only thing you get to take away to remind you of your visit is experiencing another human being passion and love ffor his work, and what you saw in the telescopes, the laser-guided tour of the night skies and of course, and the opening of the sliding roof!
Q. Does the observatory have Loyalty Cards?
- Yes. This card is valid for 12 months from date of issue. On the 1st to 3rd visit you pay full price but on the 4th visit you get 25% off. On the 5th to 7th visit you pay full price and on the 8th visit you get 50% off. 9th to 11th visit is full price with the 12th visit FREE.
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