WILD ASTRONOMY
ADVENTURES
WATCHING THE SKIES | TELESCOPE VIEWING
Wildeye Adventures in collaboration with Astronomy Adventures UK welcome you to an exciting and unique opportunity for adults and children 6+. The chance to get outdoors after dark to appreciate starry night skies. An evening spent learning about the wonders of space, star navigation and star constellations. An opportunity to observe the moon, different planets, nebulas and galaxies in outer space - using different high-tech professional telescopes.
If you're a sky watcher, a star gazer, passionate about astronomy and space. This is a chance to look through state of the art telescopes into outer space.
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Telescope viewing is best done on clearer and darker night skies. We'll be working around weather conditions and moon cycles for this particular event. You'll be based in an open field on private land. We'll gather around a large communal bonfire burning throughout the evening to keep warm. Dress up layered, bring camp chairs or rugs to sit on and flasks or mugs. Hot water will be available for hot drinks. They'll be a self serving selection of herbal teas and hot chocolate.
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This is a night time event, so bring torches and lamps with you (Please do not shine torch lights directly into the telescopic viewing area - we'll keep this section of the field dark for space viewing) Arrival is at 6pm and departure is at 12pm midnight. You are not required to stay until the very end. You may stay for as long as you wish and depart when you've got your dose of space viewing. On site, we'll let you know where the telescopes are pointing at and share planetary education along the way. Feel free to bring along tents if you wish to create a private space on the field for the evening. You have the option of camping out until morning time (for an extra fee) if you don't fancy the trip back home late at night.
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We are inviting 20 guests per evening to this galactic experience. Once all guests are welcomed, settled around the communal bonfire with a hot drink. Before telescopic viewing begins; we'll open with an educational presentation starting at 7pm. Sharing fascinating knowledge and facts about the moon, planets, galaxies, nebulas and more.
Enter into our on site raffle to win space goodies for either children and adults too. It’s £1 per ticket to enter and you can do this on arrival. We'll announce all winners round the fire for various prizes on offer.
We look down so often in modern day lifestyles. It's time to look up to the skies. An opportunity ​to connect with other like-minded sky chasers, space enthusiasts and look into outer space together to appreciate what the night sky offers.
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DATE: 6th December & Repeats 7th December 2024
TIME: 6pm to 12pm (midnight)
LOCATION: Brasted Chart, Sevenoaks, Kent
DECEMBER NIGHT SKY
In December, the night sky offers a spectacular view of several celestial objects through a telescope. Here’s what you can expect to see:
Venus: Venus shines brightly in the Evening sky, Setting a few hours after the Sun. Through a telescope, you can observe its phases, similar to those of the Moon.
The crescent Moon is a beautiful sight, with its illuminated sliver revealing craters and mountains along the terminator (the line between the light and dark sides). The best time to observe it is a few days after the new Moon.
Saturn: Saturn is well-placed in the southern sky during the early evening. Its iconic rings are visible, and you can also spot some of its moons, like Titan, Tethys.
Uranus: Uranus is visible with binoculars or a small telescope. It appears as a small, bluish-green disk. While it lacks the dramatic features of other planets, its color and distant location make it an interesting target1.
Jupiter: Jupiter is near its best for the year in December. Through a telescope, you can see its cloud belts and the four largest moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Watching these moons change position night after night is fascinating.
Seven Sisters (Pleiades): The Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters, is a stunning open cluster. Even with the naked eye, it appears as a small, misty patch. Through a telescope, you can resolve individual stars, which are hot and blue1.
Andromeda Galaxy: The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest spiral galaxy to our own Milky Way. It appears as a faint, elongated smudge of light through a telescope. Under dark skies, you can see its bright core and some of its spiral structure.
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AWARENESS
Telescopic viewing requires patience and flexibility. Best done when skies are darker, clearer & cloud free. When the skies are clearer we are good to go; winter night skies offer this.
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During the experience you'll have the opportunity to look through the telescope multiple times, to observe different celestial objects. We'll be changing telescope settings throughout the evening. Saturn, the Moon and other objects will be seen earlier on in the evening. Jupiter may be best viewed later on in the evening, so be prepared to stay up later.
We'll be adapting to weather conditions and hoping for clear skies. Please remain flexible if you are interested in attending. The event will take place on the Friday night, and repeat again Saturday evening. Payment is only for one evening. However, if you attend and don't get an opportunity to look through the telescope (because of sudden occurring cloudy weather) you would be welcome to re-book and re-attend for free on another set date. We cannot predict weather conditions until closer the time and we aim to keep in touch with all guests leading up to the event. We require a minimum of 10 guests to run this event, so please share the event to family and friends that may be interested in joining.
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Plan B: If we are unable to run the event on the planned scheduled weekend dates of 6th & 7th Dec (as a result of poor weather conditions) We'll be required to shift the date to two weekends afterwards, on 21st & 22nd December. This is the next best weekend with darker skies for telescope viewing - best during a crescent moon. If you can't make the rescheduled dates. We may issue a gift voucher for any future event with Wildeye Adventures / Astronomy Adventures.
There will be up to two or three telescopes being used on this event - which are state of the art electronic telescopes (curtesy of Astronomy Adventures) Programmed to locate various celestial objects automatically - the advances of modern technology! Remember; you are now a sky chaser. Stay open, flexible and pray to the sky gods. It will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to observe planets, galaxies and nebulas in space.
PRICES:
Adults 18+ | £45
Youth 12+ | £25
Child 6+ | £15
Your payment allows entrance to attend the event on either Friday (6th) or Saturday (7th). Please let us know which date you're interested in attending to upon booking. Email us for payment & booking details.
We are inviting around 20 guests per evening.
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If you would like to camp in the field or woods overnight - rather than traveling back home late. This can be arranged for an extra fee. Please enquire with us.
For booking & payment details connect via the contact us page or email: contact@wildeyeadventures.com
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FAQ's
Are there any toilets?
There are no toilets on site. You'll need to go into the woods for any wild wees. Please do not leave any tissue paper in the woods, use rubbish bags on site or burn any tissues on the fire. Respecting the environment is a must! There will be a hand washing station and hand sanitiser on site.
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What kit shall I bring?
Bring torches and lamps for this night time event. Flasks / mugs for hot drinks. Optional tents, if you wish to create private personal space in the field (for younger children perhaps). Camps chairs. Blankets to keep warm. Rugs / roll matts to sit on. Anything you believe will make your life more comfortable outdoors.
What clothes do I wear?
You'll be outside for the duration of this event. Please come dressed appropriately, keep warm and layer up. Wear suitable outdoor trainers | boots and thick socks. Gloves, hats & scarves are advised.
Is there any water?
Bring flasks / mugs for hot drinks. There will be hot water, hot chocolate and herbals teas available.
Can I camp in the field or woods overnight?
If you are concerned about traveling home late at night. You are welcome to camp out in the field using tents overnight and depart in the morning time. There will be land owner fees per individual. Please enquire with us.
Where is the location?
You'll be based in an open field on private land. There are woodlands on site you are welcome to wander into for a night time wander, see if you can spot som. Bring a torch! Exact location and address are shared upon booking.
What if it's cloudy or raining?
British weather can be unpredictable and we will be working around weather conditions. We are hoping for clearer skies and aim to give everyone the opportunity to view through the telescope multiple times at different celestial objects. The moon will be crescent around our selected dates, better for outer space viewing.
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We will keep an eye on the weather conditions and keep in touch with guests prior to the event. If it's all good to go, we can go ahead with our planned scheduled dates. If in the unlikely case, it suddenly clouds over during your visit and you don't get the opportunity to telescope view. You can return the following evening (on the Saturday / Sunday) free of charge. We'll also have other back up activities on offer, just in case.
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In the unfortunate case of poor weather conditions predicted prior our planned weekend dates. We may reschedule for two weekends later on 21st & 22nd December. So please try to keep these weekend free - just in case. Remember we are working around British weather and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to gaze at planets, nebulas, galaxies and moon craters before Christmas time. Sharing the gift of galactic life memories. If you cannot make it to the rescheduled dates, we can issue an open gift voucher for futures events with either Wildeye Adventures or Astronomy Adventures or a refund if you have not attended due to poor weather on either weekends.
What will we be viewing through the telescope?
There will be up to two or three telescopes operating during the experience. They will be pointed at different celestial objects at different times during the evening. Have a read of the 'December Night Sky" section further up this page to find out more.
Can I bring my own telescope?
Of course you can. It's the perfect opportunity to put personal telescopes to the test. Plus there will be a professional astronomer on site so you can pick their brains! You'll have to carry it up the field yourself, so bring a trolley to drag it if it's a heavy one.
We are happy to answer any questions if you have any. Please contact us.
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