Richard Darn
Email: richard@richarddarn.com
X: @RichDarn1
Richard Darn is an experienced astronomer based in the North of England. Enthusiastic in outreach, Richard delivers astronomy events across the region in support of numerous locations and organisations and is able to simplify the most complex dark skies phenomenon. He is fantastic family-friendly presenter and makes his talks very interactive and engaging. Richard delivers high-quality training to businesses wanting to tap into the expanding tourism market for stargazing.
Richard worked with us to achieve our Dark Sky Reserve status with the International Dark-Sky Association.
Rob Cockcroft
Email: cockcroft@mcmaster.ca
Tel: +1 905-525-9140 ext. 23629
Rob is an astronomer and educator in Canada – originally from Bingley, West Yorkshire – with a passion for sharing the awe and wonder of the universe with audiences of all ages. His background in research, teaching, and planetarium work allows him to explain complex astronomical ideas in clear, engaging ways – whether he’s speaking to elementary school students, lifelong learners, or anyone curious about the cosmos. He offers talks and interactive sessions on a wide range of topics, from popular subjects like black holes and the search for extraterrestrial life, to his collaborations with Indigenous astronomers and scholars, to accessible introductions to stargazing and the night sky. He also enjoys bringing astronomy to life through hands-on activities and live demonstrations that make learning about space both fun and memorable.
Rob’s family and friends often bring him back to the UK so he now has the opportunity to share astronomy with audiences in both countries he has the privilege to call home.
Neill Sanders
Email: team@gostargazing.co.uk
Website: https://gostargazing.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gostargazinguk
X: @gostargazing
Instagram: @gostargazing
Neill is the founder of Go Stargazing. Go Stargazing is formed of a close-knit group of astronomers, all of whom are keen to encourage public interest in astronomy to as wide an audience as possible. The team assist in running thousands of public stargazing events, including Star Camps and planetariums.
Martin Whipp and Chris Higgins
Email: limetreeobservatory@gmail.com
Website: https://www.limetreeobservatory.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LimeTreeObservatory/
X: @LimeTreeObsy
The Lime Tree Observatory, at Lime Tree Farm in Grewelthorpe, is situated within the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, on the eastern edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. This observatory also hosts a presentation room and can hold groups of up to 25 people. Martin and Chris, from the Lime Tree Observatory in Ripon, are extremely knowledgeable astro-enthusiasts that lead stargazing events.
Abby Moule
Email: abby@astroabbyphotography.co.uk
Website: www.astroabbyphotography.co.uk
Instagram: @astro_abby_photography
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astroabbyphotography/
Astro Abby is an award-winning astrophotographer who is passionate about the blend of science and creativity that night photography offers. She inspires others to ‘look up’ and witness the beauty of our night sky and offers a range of talks, workshops and tours to teach others how to capture the stars.
Pete Collins
Email: info@diamond-skies.co.uk
Website: https://diamond-skies.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diamondskies99/
Instagram: @diamondskies99
Pete Collins presents talks on nightscape imaging for budding night-time photographers and astronomy groups.
Gary Lintern
Email: gary@garylinternphotography.com
Website: http://garylinternphotography.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gary.lintern.photography/
X: @garylintern
Gary runs a photography and stargazing tour company focussing on online experiences and offers subject-specific training for tour guides and accommodation providers, such as night-time photography workshops.
Paul Clark
Instagram: @paulastroimages
Paul has held very well attended events as part of our Dark Skies Festival at the Dales Bike Centre in Reeth. He is a member of the Reeth Astronomy Group and is a fantastic astro-photographer. Paul also runs a local business accommodation: the Old Dairy B&B, in Low Row, Swaledale.
The StarSmith
Email: enquiries@thestarsmith.com
Website: https://www.thestarsmith.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheStarsmith/
Lee Hunt, based in Lancashire, gives talks to the local community on dark skies, what can be seen with basic equipment (even the naked eye!) and inspires others to “just look up!”. I have a number of different sized telescopes, cameras and in the process of building an observatory!
Rob Ince
Email: stargazing.events.uk@gmail.com
Website: https://www.stargazingevents.com/
Robert Ince is a well-known amateur astronomer and professional scientist. He was the resident astronomer and manager of the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory (SDSO) in the Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park (GFDSP).
He has worked with various National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, The Forestry Commission, and local wildlife trusts to develop astronomy tourism and provide astronomy outreach events to increase light pollution awareness in the North of England.
Mark Westmoquette
Email: mark@markwestmoquette.co.uk
Website: https://markwestmoquette.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MWestmoquette
Mark has a PhD in Astrophysics at UCL (University College London). In 2013, he decided to leave professional research to focus on teaching yoga and mindfulness, combined with stargazing. “Mindful stargazing means looking up at the night sky with wide-eyed curiosity and wonder. It’s the pure, immersive experience of being with the starscape above.”
Nick Higgett
Email: nhiggett@hotmail.com
Colin Stuart
Email: contact@colinstuart.net
Website: https://www.colinstuart.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colinstuartspace
Instagram: @colinstuartspace
X: @skyponderer
Colin is a multi-award-winning astronomy author, writer and speaker who has talked to over half a million people about the universe, including schools, the public and businesses.
Stuart Atkinson
Email: stuartatk@aol.com
Website: https://stuartatkinson.wordpress.com/
Stuart has been running Astronomy Outreach and Education projects in Cumbria for many years, giving illustrated lectures about astronomy and spaceflight to community groups and science presentations at local schools.
Martin Lunn
Website: https://www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/martin.lunn.7
X: @astro_gnome
Martin has a degree in astrophysics and has been presented with an MBE for services to astronomy and education. He presents lectures on cruise ships all over the world, and to various clubs and societies at home. As well as this, he has a weekly Astronomy Show on a community radio station called Drystone Radio, and writes a ‘What’s in the night sky?’ feature for the Craven Herald newspaper which covers the Yorkshire Dales.
Cosmic Wonders
Email: sophie@cosmicwonders.co.uk
Website: https://cosmicwonders.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CosmicWonders1/
Sophie has vast experience working at observatories, leading stargazing tours, and providing science sessions for schools. Cosmic Wonders is an interactive learning experience to engage and inspire people with our Universe. Delivering practical, hands-on fun space and astronomy workshops for children and presenting astronomy talks, stargazing sessions, and planetarium experiences.
Astro-Dog
Astro Dog is a small astronomy and astrophotography business based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They run public stargazing events and are passionate about astronomy, astrophotography, our dark skies and teaching people about the wonders of the universe.
Email: contact@astro-dog.co.uk
Website: https://astro-dog.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astrodogUK/
Jo Richardson – Space Detectives (online)
Email: spacedetectives@yahoo.com
Website: https://www.spacedetectives.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spacedetectives/
Jo is a ‘Professional Space Educationalist and Outreach Specialist’, and works hard to address the needs within schools (particularly at Primary Level) for quality Space Science Education.
Astronomy Groups
- Harrogate Astronomical Society
- Reeth Informal Astronomy Group
- Eden Valley and Penrith Astronomy Group
For other astronomy contacts please get in touch at tourism@yorkshiredales.org.uk
Planetariums