Astronomy Section

We run and maintain the David Le Conte Astronomical Observatory on the island of Guernsey. We are a division of La Société Guernesiaise, a charitable organisation founded in 1882 to encourage the study of the history, natural history, geography and geology of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the conservation of the Bailiwick’s natural environment and the preservation of its historic buildings and monuments.

Founded in 1972, our section is an active group of approximately 60 members. We welcome everyone with an interest in the night sky, from absolute beginners to experienced astronomers. Our members' interests span the entire field of astronomy, including the Solar System, deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae, cosmology, astrophotography, and the history of astronomy. We are also proud members of the British Astronomical Association and the Federation of Astronomical Societies.

Membership

We invite anyone with a passion for the stars to join the astronomy section.

• Annual Cost: £15.00 (Membership runs for one calendar year starting January 1st).
• Requirement: To join the Astronomy Section, you must also be a member of our parent organisation, La Société Guernesiaise (LSG).
• Benefits: Members receive regular emails with details on upcoming activities, as well as the annual Sagittarius Newsletter, which contains astronomical data and insights for the year ahead.
  
  You can view current and previous editions on our Newsletters Page.

Meetings & Member Activities

We meet weekly at 8 pm through most of the year. Meetings include talks by members or guest speakers; discussions, practical activities, and observational sessions when weather allows; all of which are beginner-friendly.

• Visitors: We warmly welcome visitors to our scheduled meetings—simply turn up and join us for the evening!
• Expert Advice: Our members are happy to advise on choosing or using telescopes and binoculars. If you have equipment you’d like help with, feel free to bring it along on a Tuesday evening.

Public Open Evenings

Occasionally, when the weather is clear, we may open the observatory to the public to view objects such as the Moon, the planets, and deep-space objects like nebulae and galaxies. These evenings often include a talk in our meeting room. We also occasionally hold daytime sessions for solar observing. Follow us on Facebook for updates.

Group Visits

We offer educational group visits for schools, youth groups, and adult organisations. These visits are hosted by our volunteer members and provide a fantastic hands-on introduction to astronomy.

Please note: Group visits are normally held during the winter months. We do not usually host visits during British Summer Time (BST) as the late sunset significantly limits viewing opportunities. However we welcome enquiries at any time of year, and will endeavour to offer a visit to benefit your group.

For more details or to book, please see our Group Visits Page.

Our Facilities

The David Le Conte Astronomical Observatory is a modern facility equipped for both education and serious observation:

• Meeting Room: A comfortable space with a digital projector, fibre broadband, and a comprehensive library.
• Kitchen: Tea, coffee, and biscuits are available during meetings.
• Main Observatory: A timber-framed building with a roll-off roof housing a 16-inch research-grade Meade reflecting telescope and a 5-inch Takahashi refractor on a computer-controlled equatorial mount; and a 55-inch wall mounted monitor for presentations.
• Solar Observation: We have a 6-inch Heliostat, a specialised instrument that tracks the Sun and projects a high-detail live image for safe group viewing.
• Portable Telescopes: A 12-inch Skywatcher Dobsonian and an 8-inch Celestron SCT.
• Observation Pads: Concrete pads in the grassed area allow members to set up the portable telescopes or their own telescopes with easy access to assistance from the group.

For a detailed history of the Astronomy Section and our buildings, please see our Articles Page.