OBSERVATORY 
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GROUP VISITS
The Society has an active policy of education for all those interested in astronomy; talks and visits for schools, children's and youth groups, and the general public who have visited our observatory over the last few years. The Society is constantly striving to improve its facilities, for both its members and the public so that astronomy becomes accessible to all those interested.
One of the ways we achieve this is by making arrangements for groups to visit our observatory. Although we are happy to arrange this at any time of the year, the long days during summer usually mean that opening is limited to late September through to late April, especially where children are involved. Alternatively, we can visit a group to give a talk, show slides and answer their questions. Us visiting groups or groups visiting us has the advantage of enabling us to attend to their interest on a more personal level than would be possible at public viewing sessions for example.
The Society does not make a fixed charge for arranging visits or talks although donations are always welcome. If you would like to find out more about visiting the observatory or inviting us to give a talk, go to the
Society page for contact details.
PUBLIC VIEWING
The Moon, Jupiter and Saturn have proved to be the most popular object's visitors observe but many other things are shown - weather permitting. A recent highlight for the Society was the opening to allow people to view Comet Hale-Bopp in the spring of 1997 that raised over £1,300 for the Society. In the twelve years that the Society has been taking records of visitor numbers over something like seven thousand people have been to our observatory on open nights alone.
TOOTHILL OBSERVATORY
The Society's own roll-off roof observatory was opened in 1981 on the Southern Water reservoir at Toothill near Rownhams and was named after its friendly former President, Mrs. Bertha C. Weston. Shortly afterwards a famous visitor to Toothill was none other than Dr. Patrick Moore OBE. The observatory suffered much damage in the 'hurricane' of October 1987 but was extensively repaired and refurbished soon after.
Some pictures of the observatory and its main telescope are shown below. The first two pictures show the observatory first with the roof closed and then with the roof open. Society members Pete Cutler and Tony Hewer stand nearby. Click on the pictures to see the full size photographs. Both pictures were taken by
Derek Haselden.
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Solent regularly open their observatory to the public every month. Visitors can view different selected objects through the club's equipment and several members are always on hand to answer questions. The Society also caters for visiting children's (as well as adult) groups as part of their educational or recreational programmes; in recent years this has become a major activity for the Society.
The last two pictures show close-ups of the main 12 inch reflecting telescope formerly used at Toothill. This telescope was recently replaced with an automated 14 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain. The last picture shows Pete Cutler at the eyepiece. Click on the pictures to see the full size photographs. Both pictures were taken by Derek Haselden.
Would you like to see the full size versions of these pictures? Click on the picture, then use the BACK button on your browser to return to this page.
Due to the great efforts and financial assistance over the years by several members; Dave Allen, Chris Bennett, Derek Haselden, Pete Cutler and many others besides, the observatory now boasts a fine 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with GPS and Autostar. A pair of 20x80 binoculars and other telescopes are also available for use.
Since the Society first started taking records in 1994 over five and a half thousand visitors have been to Toothill on open evenings. In the same period several hundred children have visited Toothill as part of their educational programmes. One recent highlight was the special opening for 1 week to view Comet Hale-Bopp in 1997. Well over a thousand people visited in that one week.
The observatory usually opens to the public on the first Friday and Saturday of each month; The exception to this being a second opening in August which often coincides with the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower.
Although the observatory is scheduled to open monthly these openings are subject to the weather. In the event of rain or overcast skies the observatory WILL NOT open - contrary to popular belief, optical telescopes cannot see through cloud!
Visitors are warned that in the event of snow or ice the roads leading to the observatory may be dangerously icy or even impassable. In such weather conditions the observatory will not open even if the skies are clear. In such conditions visitors are strongly advised to carefully check the state of the roads and weather forecasts before setting off.
For the latest Southampton Weather follow this link.
National, Regional and Local weather forcasts can also be found on BBC Ceefax, page 401.
The observatory is on the Southern Water Services reservoir at Toothill, Rownhams, near Southampton. (Ordnance Survey grid reference SU 383181 - 50 degrees, 57 minutes, 40 seconds North latitude; and 1 degree, 27 minutes, 21 seconds West longitude.) Entrance is via the double gates to the reservoir in Upper Toothill Road. A map appears further down the page as well as an opening schedule.
Free Parking and toilet facilities are available at Toothill observatory.
Entrance fees are £2.00 for adults, 50p for children, students, OAP's and Concessions.
Visitors are advised to dress suitably with warm, sensible clothing and footwear.
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The gates leading to the observatory will be closed 90 minutes after opening time.
Please dip you headlights when driving through the gates.
For more information please phone 079 89 90 45 75.
TOOTHILL OBSERVATORY
LOCATION MAP
Would you like to see the full size version of this map?
Click on the map, then use the BACK button on your browser to return to this page.
This map covers an area approximately 1.5km across.
If you require a map covering a larger area please use the link below which will take you to
another site. This will provide you with maps that are based on 1km and 10km squares which can
be used in conjunction with the above.
Link to maps centred on Toothill Observatory
TOOTHILL OBSERVATORY
2012 PUBLIC VIEWING SCHEDULE
| DATES | OPEN TIME | ON VIEW |
| Friday 6th & Saturday 7th January 2012 | 7.30pm | Jupiter, Orion, Double Stars |
| Friday 3rd & Saturday 4th February 2012 | 7.30pm | The Moon, Orion, Jupiter, Double Stars |
| Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd March 2012 | 7.30pm | The Moon, Leo, Mars |
| Friday 6th & Saturday 7th April 2012 | 8.30pm | Mars, Leo, Venus |
| Friday 4th & Saturday 5th May 2012 | 9.30pm | Mars, Saturn, Leo |
| Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd June 2012 | 9.30pm | Mars, Saturn, Double Stars |
| Friday 6th & Saturday 7th July 2012 | 9.30pm | TBA |
| Friday 3rd & Saturday 4th August 2012 | 9.00pm | TBA |
| Friday 10th & Saturday 11th August 2012 | 9.00pm | Perseid Meteors Watch |
| Friday 7th & Saturday 8th September 2012 | 8.00pm | TBA |
| Friday 5th & Saturday 6th October 2012 | 7.30pm | TBA |
| Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd November 2012 | 7.30pm | TBA |
| Friday 7th & Saturday 8th December 2012 | 7.30pm | TBA |
(TBA - To Be Announced)
(Schedules are usually devised at 6 monthly intervals. Updates due in June and December.)
Feedback about this site and suggestions for additional information and pages are welcome, please send an e-mail to The Webmaster.
© Solent Amateur Astronomers, Derek Haselden, 2012
