Observing | airdrieobservatory

Observing

Welcome to Airdrie Observatory.

Did you know that there are only four public observatories in the United Kingdom? That they are ALL in Scotland? and that Airdrie Observatory is the smallest and the second oldest?

Airdrie Astronomical Association opens the observatory during astronomical events, at open days, for ten evening viewing sessions between November and January and by arrangement for groups wishing to visit.
Follow us on Facebook for all the latest astronomy news and Observatory updates.

AAA operates Airdrie Observatory on behalf of North Lanarkshire Council (NLC).

Meet our curators

Did you know that Airdrie Observatory has had some very famous visitors including three Apollo astronauts, one of which is a Moonwalker!

Visit Walk With Destiny to learn more about these incredible visits, organised by club secretary, Aileen Malone.

Visit Walk With Destiny

Our joint curators William Tennant and Jack Frederick
will be on hand to answer all your questions and show you around the Observatory.

Winter Observing Sessions

Our Winter Observing Sessions are back!

Join us in the Observatory, which is located in Airdrie Library, Wellwynd, use our historic telescope to observe the night sky and meet our curators who will answer your questions and make you feel very welcome.

Our open observing sessions will run on Tuesday evenings from 12th Nov 2024 till 17th Dec inclusive and

7th Jan till 28th Jan 2025 inclusive from 5:30pm - 7pm (last admission 6:45pm)

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Our Winter Viewing Sessions Run on Tuesday nights during November, December and January.

Viewing nights are open to the public from 5:30 - 7:00pm (last admission 6:45pm)
So pop in and visit us!

Why not book a visit for your group?
Group visits include a presentation about the Solar System as well as a visit to the Observatory and are a great outing for all ages.

To Book a group visit contact us to reserve your night!

Observatory Calendar

Use our handy Observatory Calendar below to see what nights we have groups booked in, to help you to decide the best night to plan your visit to the Observatory and a handy list of what we might be able to see (weather permitting) at our open observing nights!

Observatory Open nights 2024/2025

What’s up at the Airdrie Observatory from now till the end of January.
Below is a list of celestial objects that will be hoping to see during the 2024/25 session viewing
evenings, weather permitting.

12th November 2024
Saturn will be visible, although the rings are not the best at the moment. The brighter satellites
of Saturn will be visible.
The moon will be 11 days old and good for viewing tonight.
We may be able to view the Andromeda galaxy and Pleiades.
The winter constellations will start to come into better viewing positions over the next weeks.

19th November 2024
Saturn will be visible and Jupiter will be visible although still low in the sky.
We may be able to view the Andromeda galaxy and Pleiades
The winter constellations will start to come into better viewing positions over the next weeks.

26nd November 2024
Saturn will be at its highest point in the sky for the 24/25 observing session. Jupiter is climbing
higher.
We may be able to view the Andromeda galaxy and Pleiades
The winter constellations will start to come into better viewing positions over the next weeks.

3rd December 2024
Saturn is still visible and Jupiter is getting higher every week.
The Hyades open star cluster will be easy to see near Jupiter.

10th December 2024
A 9 day old moon will be visible and we might be able to get some pictures of it!
Jupiter will be getting higher in the sky offering favourable viewing
We may be able to view the Andromeda galaxy and Pleiades.
Uranus is quite high in the sky, it is a very dim planet just viewable with the naked eye under
dark skies but we may attempt to see it through the telescope.

17th December 2024
This is the last open evening for the year and our first open evening in the New Year will be the

7th January 2025.
Jupiter will be visible and Saturn, although visible will be low in the sky.
We may be able to view the Andromeda galaxy and Pleiades.
Venus will be low in the sky and we may get a glimpse of it.
Uranus is quite high in the sky, it is a very dim planet just viewable with the naked eye under
dark skies but we may attempt to see it through the telescope.

7th January 2025
Jupiter will be visible and Saturn, although visible will be low in the sky.

Venus will be lower in the sky than Saturn, but closer to it than the end of the year.
Uranus is quite high in the sky, it is a very dim planet just viewable with the naked eye under
dark skies but we may attempt to see it through the telescope.
Mars will be visible low in the sky, but getting better as the weeks progress.
A 7 day old moon will provide some good views.

14th January 2025
Jupiter will be visible and Saturn, although visible will be low in the sky.
Venus will be lower in the sky than Saturn, but even closer to it than the previous week.
Mars is getting higher in the sky
Uranus is quite high in the sky, it is a very dim planet just viewable with the naked eye under
dark skies but we may attempt to see it through the telescope.
Mars will be visible low in the sky, but getting better as the weeks progress.
A 15 day old moon will be visible and provide good views.

21st January 2025
Jupiter will be visible and Saturn, although visible will be low in the sky.
Venus will be higher in the sky than Saturn and as close to it than the previous week
Uranus is quite high in the sky, it is a very dim planet just viewable with the naked eye under
dark skies but we may attempt to see it through the telescope.
Mars will be fairly high in the sky.
A 15 day old moon will be visible and provide good views.

28th January 2025
Jupiter will be visible and the best position for this session.
Venus will be higher in the sky than Saturn, but still low.
Uranus is quite high in the sky, it is a very dim planet just viewable with the naked eye under
dark skies but we may attempt to see it through the telescope.

Mars will be visible and high in the sky and will be excellent to see.

“My husband and daughter visited the observatory on tuesday night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you all so much taking the time with them. My husband has always had an interest but it was great to see my daughter getting excited about it. She went into school the next day and did a small talk about the night.”

Anne S.