People are being given the chance to view the galaxy and listen to the ‘sounds of space’.

Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society is holding open days at its Coxmoor Road base in Sutton, on Saturdays 8th and 29th October.

The evenings include a rolling series of 20-minute talks in the lecture room throughout the evening.
Visitors can go into the dome to view the galaxy through the society’s famous 24-inch, computer-driven Newtonian telescope (weather permitting).

Outside, there is a radio telescope where visitors can listen to the ‘sounds of space’, in particular incoming meteors.

That does not require clear skies and a demonstration of its operation will take place.

The society will also have several smaller telescopes looking at objects in the night sky (weather permitting).

Visitors can take their own binoculars and join a ‘bino tour’ of the night sky.
Gates open at 6.45pm and admission is £5 for adults and £1 for under-16s (who must be accompanied by an adult). Booking is not required and the programmes continue all night until the final visitor has left.

Refreshments and astronomically-themed merchandise will be on sale. Children will be given a free fact-sheet and society members will answer questions. Car parking is free. Visitors should note the only access into the dome (main scope) is via a spiral staircase.

Go to www.sherwood-observatory.org.uk or ring 01623 552276 (24-hour answerphone) for further information on the events, future open evenings, night-school courses, group visits and other activities.