Scotland’s Astronomer Royal, Professor Catherine Heymans, officially opened the Moffat Community Observatory recently.
She gave a “very entertaining and informative address” to mark the culmination of five years of hard work by the Moffat Astronomy Club to make their vision a reality.
Final preparations are being worked on which should allow public access to the facility from the end of November by booking in advance on the Moffat Astronomy Club’s website.
Moffat’s unique stargazing position was officially recognised by the International Dark Sky Association which, in 2015, awarded it the status of the first dark sky town outside the USA.
The following year the Moffat Astronomy Club was set up and members have been working ever since to locate a site and fundraise for a community-run observatory within walking distance of the town centre.
Moffat Astronomy Club chairman, Jim Connechen, and local IDA member, James Paterson – a semi retired lighting professional and author of the lighting masterplan which gave Galloway Forest it’s International Dark Sky Park status in 2009 – have been the driving forces behind the project, along with Evelyn Atkins, who was chairman from 2016 to 2019.
Astronomy Club members raised funds and received £34,000 wind-farm grant funding from Scottish and Southern Energy and cash-aid from Moffat Community Council for the new facility which lies near the rear of Moffat Academy grounds.
Access to the observatory, via a new path and ramp for wheelchair users into the field was provided as part of Sir Robert MacAlpine’s commitment to community access improvement schemes.
Club members built the observatory themselves after starting construction work in November 2019 and were delayed by the pandemic.
It includes two log cabin, a £20,000 telescope Meade f/8 advanced comma free 16” telescope on a WiFi compatible equatorial mount, made by iOptron, and a three meter diameter observing dome.
James said: “ With a focal length of 3251mm the optical tube provides a light gathering capability which is ideal to view deep sky objects like nebulae and super-novas.
“Cameras have also been purchased to provide data and for guiding the telescope in the future while processing astro photography images.
“There are plans to allow wider community and town visitor viewing which will include a booking system on the club web site from the end of November. Also, access plans for pupils from the adjacent Moffat Academy, which had an astronomy club 40 years ago, will also form an essential part of the ongoing educational outreach.
“With WiFi capabilities it may even be possible in the future for the pupils at Moffat Academy to view the night sky from their classroom.”
Since helping Moffat achieve International Dark Sky Town status, James has gone on to masterplan 14 other dark sky award areas in the UK from as far north as the Orkney island of North Ronaldsay to as far south as the island of Saint Helena and includes the International Dark Sky Reserves in both the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks.
