Drawing the Moon at the North Pennines Observatory

Drawing the Moon at the North Pennines Observatory

Thursday 2nd November 2023 from 19:00pm to 22:00pm

North Pennines Observatory
The Old School House, Allenheads, Northumberland, NE47 9HR

An evening of fascinating facts, observation and drawing of the Moon, led by Allenheads Contemporary Art’s artist director, Alan Smith.

Imagine you are back in 1609 with Italian Astonomer Galileo Galilei, using his newly adapted telescope to study the phases of the Moon, the most detailed imagery anyone had ever seen of this celestial body, with a device as powerful as readily available binoculars today.

Galileo drew the Moon as he saw it and so will you, using your naked eye, binoculars and a range of our telescopes to view the Moon through different magnifications.

Pens, pencils and paper will be available but bring any favourite personal materials to explore different techniques to make your own images of the Moon. Aimed at adults and over 12s.

This event is part of the North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2023, running from the 20th of October to the 5th of November, 2023. #NorthPennStarFest23 #NPennDarkSkies

Please note that this has already taken place on 02/11/2023


Event organiser

North Pennines Observatory

North Pennines Observatory is organising this event

Please contact North Pennines Observatory directly for more details regarding this event or, if appropriate, contact the event venue.


Event booking

For full details on how to attend this event, including how to book, please see the event's official website.

Visit event website

Event darkness

The Moon has a big impact on the visibility of celestial bodies in the night sky. Try to plan your stargazing when there is no bright Moon at night as this is when the skies will be at their darkest.

The below chart shows if and when the skies will be at their darkest during this event. Moonlight is shown in light yellow and the Sun's twilight in light blue. Midnight on the date shown is shown as a white line with sunset to the left and sunrise the next morning to the right. A black background with stars shows the best times for stargazing.



Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Cranmore House – Nenthead

    Holmsfoot, Nenthead, Cumbria, CA9 3LS (5.3 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info
  • Greenends Holiday Cottages

    Nenthead, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3NA (5.6 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info
  • Langdon Beck Hotel – Teesdale

    Langdon Beck, Forest-in-Teesdale, County Durham, DL12 0XP, North East (8.9 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info
  • Mark Close Farmhouse – Alston

    Brampton Road, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3BD (9.4 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info
  • Brewers Cottage – Hexham

    Leafields, Ordley, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 1SX (9.9 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info
  • The High Force Hotel

    Alston Road, Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, DL12 0XH (10.6 miles away)

    Go Stargazing Site, Stay & Gaze

    More info