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.
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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 generally 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! For the latest UK weather forecast, follow this link and select Central Southern England.
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.
Parking and toilet facilities are available at Toothill observatory.
Entrance fees are £1.00 for adults, 50p for children, students, OAP's and those on Benefit.
Visitors are advised to dress suitably with warm, sensible clothing and footwear.
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
TOOTHILL OBSERVATORY
LOCATION MAP
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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
2008 PUBLIC VIEWING SCHEDULE
| DATES | OPEN TIME | ON VIEW |
| Friday 4th & Saturday 5th January 2008 | 7.30pm | Mars and Orion |
| Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd February 2008 | 7.30pm | Mars and Deep Sky Objects |
| Friday 7th & Saturday 8th March 2008 | 7.30pm | Mars and Saturn |
| Friday 4th & Saturday 5th April 2008 | 8.30pm | Mars, Saturn and Galaxies |
| Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd May 2008 | 9.30pm | Saturn and Star Clusters |
| Friday 6th & Saturday 7th June 2008 | 9.30pm | Messier Objects |
| Friday 4th & Saturday 5th July 2008 | 9.30pm | Jupiter and Messier Objects |
| Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd August 2008 | 9.30pm | Jupiter and The Summer Triangle |
| Friday 8th & Saturday 9th August 2008 | 9.30pm | Perseid Meteors Watch |
| * * * Saturday 16th August 2008 * * * | * * * 8.30pm * * * | * * * Lunar Eclipse * * * |
| Friday 5th & Saturday 6th September 2008 | 8.30pm | Jupiter and Galaxies |
| Friday 3rd & Saturday 4th October 2008 | 7.30pm | Jupiter and Deep-Sky Objects |
| Friday 7th & Saturday 8th November 2008 | 7.30pm | The Moon and Star Clusters |
| Friday 5th & Saturday 6th December 2008 | 7.30pm | The Moon and Tour of Taurus |
(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, 2008
