The Piazzi Smyth Observatory and planetarium is located on the premises of Bedford School and operates during term time from mid-September to mid-April. It is home to a huge 16″ aperture Schmidt Cassegrain reflecting telescope.
The facility is available to book by interest groups and other schools. Events are run in collaboration with enthusiastic astronomers from the Bedford Astronomical Society.
Location events organiser
Bedford Astronomical Society organises events at this location
Please contact Bedford Astronomical Society directly with any enquiries relating to visiting this location
Email: [email protected]
Website: Bedford Astronomical Society
Twitter: @BEDSASTRO
Facebook: Bedford Astronomical Society
Weather forecast
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04/05/24
16° 1% -
04/05/24
12° 3% -
05/05/24
10° 0% -
05/05/24
8° 0%
Weather forecast for Bedford (0.7 miles away) updated 04/05/24 at 12:00.
Local light pollution
Piazzi Smyth Observatory is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to an urban location based on the latest data from the VIIRS satellite.
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Urban
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Suburban
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Semi-rural
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Rural
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Dark site
The above demonstrates the estimated effect of light pollution - graphics created using Stellarium.
Best time to visit
The below chart shows when the skies will be at their darkest at this location and therefore the best time to visit. 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. See our dark sky calendar for more details.
Sat 4th May
Sun 5th May
Mon 6th May
Tue 7th May
Wed 8th May
Thu 9th May
Fri 10th May
Find more dates
If you are planning to visit this location check our dark sky calendar to find out when is best!
Calendar