Highlands Astronomical Society is the proud owner of a fully equipped astronomical observatory opened in 2008. The observing dome houses a Meade LX200R 14" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, fitted to a Skywatcher EQ8 GOTO equatorial mount. The Society also has various other telescopes, ranging from a 3.5" Maksutov and 4" achromatic refractor up to an 8" astrograph and 12" dobsonian. These will often be set up by members of the observatory team as auxiliary telescopes for public and members observing sessions.

The observatory is situated on the grounds of the NTS Visitor Centre at Culloden Battlefield and can be reached from the Visitor Centre's far car park. 

 

The observatory is regularly open to the public.  (Please check the Events Page or Information Panel for the status of the next observing session before setting out).

 

A voluntary charitable donation in the region of £5 per adult would be greatly appreciated to enable us to operate & maintain our Observatory.

 

For more information about Public Observing Sessions, please go to our Public Observing Guidelines page.

Observing Sessions See Events Page or Information Panel for details of our upcoming sessions.   Summer Solar Observing From April to August each year we host daytime observing sessions at JSL Observatory & Pop-Up Observatories throughout the Highlands during which visitors can safely observe the Sun through a specialist solar telescope. The Society's solar telescope is a Lunt LS60THa, which allows only a very specific part of the Sun's radiation (the hydrogen-alpha band) through to the eyepiece, meaning prominences (flares), filaments and surface granulation are readily visible and observable.

VERY IMPORTANT! Never look directly into the Sun through binoculars or a telescope or even with the naked eye. It will cause immediate and incurable damage to your eyes if you do. If you want to observe the Sun, contact the Society and we will be able to provide advice for safe observing.

Weather & Observing Conditions BBC Weather - Inverness FLO ClearOutside - Culloden Moor Metcheck Dalcross NOAA

IMPORTANT! Practical Observing Etiquette Click here for a Guide to getting the most out of your Observing Session, whether it be your own personal one or a Society organised Event.