James Irwin Observatory

James Irwin Observatory

Canterbury Adult Education Centre, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 8JY

The James Irwin Observatory is located within the grounds of Canterbury Academy and Adult Education Centre. Public access to the observatory is welcomed and facilitated by the enthusiastic members of Mid-Kent Astronomical Society who hold regular open evenings of the facility — visitors should contact the Society directly to arrange their visit, which starts with a rendezvous in the nearby Victoria Hotel before being escorted to the observatory.

The observatory itself is currently home to a large 14″ computer-controlled Celestron Schmidt Cassegrain telescope. The observatory’s original telescope, a huge half-meter aperture Grubb-Parsons manufactured telescope originally built to train students at Edinburgh University and relocated to the South West in 2012, is currently being refurbished.

To see dates when the observatory is open to the public please see the events listed under the Victoria Hotel – Canterbury.


Location events organiser

Mid-Kent Astronomical Society

Mid-Kent Astronomical Society organises events at this location

Please contact Mid-Kent Astronomical Society directly with any enquiries relating to visiting this location


Weather forecast

  • 29/03/24

    10° 1%
  • 29/03/24

    4%
  • 30/03/24

    6%
  • 30/03/24

    5%

Weather forecast for Canterbury (0.8 miles away) updated 29/03/24 at 04:00.




Events nearby

Display nearby events on a calendar
  • South East Kent Astronomical Society meeting

    Saturday 13th July 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Alkham Village Hall, Alkham, CT15 7AR (12.1 miles away)

    More info
  • Ashford Astronomical Society Meeting & Observing

    Friday 26th July 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Woodchurch Memorial Hall, Woodchurch, TN26 3QB (18.7 miles away)

    More info
  • Mid-Kent Astronomical Society meeting and observing

    Friday 26th July 2024 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Bredhurst Village Hall, Bredhurst, ME7 3JZ (21.3 miles away)

    More info
  • Beacon Observatory Public Open Evening

    Saturday 3rd August 2024 from 18:00pm to 21:00pm

    The Beacon Observatory - University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NZ (1.3 miles away)

    More info
  • Mid-Kent Astronomical Society meeting and observing

    Friday 9th August 2024 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Bredhurst Village Hall, Bredhurst, ME7 3JZ (21.3 miles away)

    More info

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