The Thanet Observatory houses a 12" Newtonian Reflecting Telescope that was originally built in the 1950s and has been extensively renovated and modernised by the Thanet Countryside Trust.

Since opening to the public in 1999, viewings have included the moon, saturn's rings, mars, comets, eclipses and aurora.

An article on the history and construction of the Thanet Observatory can be downloaded from our articles page.

Viewing Nights
On the second Friday of every month, viewing nights are held for groups of up to 20 people. Opportunites for astronomical photography may also be available upon request (please contact us in advance for details).

Contact us during daytime opening for details of how to gain access when the gates are closed after dark. Please bring warm clothing and a good torch for navigating the paths to the observatory.

In the event of cloudy weather, a related slideshow and talk is available as an alternative.

We do not charge for viewing nights but donations towards the cost of running the observatory are very welcome.