Plans for a Dark Skies Observatory at Danby Lodge Visitors Centre in the North York Moors National Park are progressing.
The aim is to create a facility for education, public engagement, and community use. The project has garnered support from academic institutions and local astronomical societies, and funding applications are underway.
John McCue, who is a founder member and honorary Vice-President of the Cleveland and Darlington Astronomical Society and now a member of the Whitby & District Astronomical Society (WDAS), says there is good support for the project.
WDAS has a history of involvement with Danby Lodge, starting with occasional Star Parties in the early 2000s, which grew from 2015 in connection with the popular Dark Sky Festival events.
Funding for the new purpose-built observatory is being sought from the Wolfson Foundation, with John McCue saying that the application is looking "promising".
The observatory project is a key element of the North York Moors National Park Authority's (NYMNPA) strategic objectives to "deliver at least two additional Dark Skies uh friendly community schemes".
The development of the Dark Skies Observatory is also aligned with the NYMNPA's awareness of the "growing Astro-tourism' sector and the boost to the local economy that could bring" following the award of Dark Sky Reserve status.
The initial concept for the observatory, sketched by John McCue and later developed by Mark Dawson, has evolved into a plan for a warm room for presentations connected to a run-off roof observing room. Architectural services for the project are being provided by Colin Simmons, the landlord of the Fox and Hounds Hotel near Danby, who turned the designs into professional quality drawings suitable for planning application submission.
Once built, WDAS, along with other parties, is expected to host regular observing nights at the observatory without needing to access the main Danby Lodge Centre or involve staff. The warm room is also envisaged for workshops, such as astrophotography, and could have numerous other uses.
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