Stargazing at the Oldehove
Tuesday 20 October
The Oldehove was once built to reach the heavens. On Tuesday 20 October, we're bringing the stars a little closer. Climb the tower, look through a telescope and discover the autumn night sky above Leeuwarden during this special stargazing evening – and you can be part of it!
During this special evening, we'll explore the wonders of the night sky. If the weather is clear, we'll begin by observing our closest neighbour in space: the Moon, where craters, mountain ranges and vast plains can be seen in remarkable detail. Next, we'll turn the telescope towards Saturn, where we may even catch a glimpse of its spectacular rings and its largest moon, Titan.
At this time of year, the Earth also passes through the trail of dust left behind by the famous Halley's Comet. This means there's a chance of spotting an Orionid meteor – a shooting star created when a tiny particle from the comet burns up as it enters Earth's atmosphere.
But we'll look even further into space. We'll compare our own Sun with the stars sparkling above us before turning our attention to the Andromeda Galaxy. At around2…
During this special evening, we'll explore the wonders of the night sky. If the weather is clear, we'll begin by observing our closest neighbour in space: the Moon, where craters, mountain ranges and vast plains can be seen in remarkable detail. Next, we'll turn the telescope towards Saturn, where we may even catch a glimpse of its spectacular rings and its largest moon, Titan.
At this time of year, the Earth also passes through the trail of dust left behind by the famous Halley's Comet. This means there's a chance of spotting an Orionid meteor – a shooting star created when a tiny particle from the comet burns up as it enters Earth's atmosphere.
But we'll look even further into space. We'll compare our own Sun with the stars sparkling above us before turning our attention to the Andromeda Galaxy. At around2.5 million light-years away, it is the most distant object visible to the naked eye from Earth. From our own cosmic neighbourhood to far beyond the Milky Way, this promises to be an evening full of fascinating discoveries – all from the familiar surroundings of the Oldehove.
The evening begins at 8.00 pm. At 8.15 pm, there will be a presentation on the first floor. Around half an hour later, once darkness has fallen, we'll head up to the roof for stargazing until approximately 9.30 pm.
This event is organised by Natuurmuseum Fryslân in collaboration with the Observeum in Burgum.
To register for the stargazing evening, please email aanmelden@natuurmuseumfryslan.nl.
