🗓️ Various Saturdays throughout the year
Discover the wonders of the night sky at Durlston Country Park’s observatory.
Learn about the different constellations as they change throughout the year at Durlston’s regular programme of stargazing events led by a ranger and members of the Wessex Astronomical Society.
A stargazing session usually consists of a talk at the Learning Centre followed by the opportunity to observe the night sky through various telescopes, as well as the observatory dome’s telescope.
- Cost: Sessions are ÂŁ4 per person and there’s no need to book in advance
2026 Stargazing Sessions
Depending on the time of year you’ll be able to view the moon; planets including Saturn, Mars and Jupiter; star clusters and galaxies; the Orion Nebula; the Andromeda Galaxy and seasonal constellations.
- Saturday 24th January: 7pm – Saturn low in west, crescent moon, Jupiter with Ganymede occulting at 10.23pm, winter constellations
- Saturday 21st February: 7pm – Slim crescent moon (set by 10pm), Jupiter with Io occulting at 10.40pm, winter constellations
- Saturday 14th March: 7pm – Jupiter with Europa occulting at 10.30pm, spring constellations
- Saturday 25th April: 8.15pm – Moon 68%, Jupiter with Io shadow transit in progress until 10.45pm, Venus low in west at start of evening (20 deg up), spring constellations
- Thursday 13th August: 8.45pm – View the peak of the Perseids meteor shower, plus astronomy-based talk
- Saturday 12th September: 8.45pm – Saturn, deep sky objects and the Milky Way
Note that stargazing is weather-dependent – any cancellations will be posted online at either:
- The Wessex Astronomical Society’s website: wessex-astro.org.uk/ or
- Durlston Country Park’s event page: www.durlston.co.uk/whats-on
Join the Wessex Astronomical Society
If you want to get more involved in astronomy, you can join the Society.
Membership gives you access to regular meetings and guest speakers, as well as the benefit of the free loan of portable telescopes for your private use for up to a month at a time.
Joining fee
- Adult: ÂŁ20
- Youth (aged 12 – 16): ÂŁ10
- Child (under 12): Free
To join, visit the Wessex Astronomical Society’s website: wessex-astro.org.uk/join/
