caravancruise.ie – Marvel at the Geminids meteor shower from Battlesteads Dark Sky Discovery Site

Marvel at the Geminids meteor shower from Battlesteads Dark Sky Discovery Site

Nov 01, 2015 Attractions, News 0

One of the biggest and brightest annual meteor showers will be happening again in December and Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant’s newly opened observatory is offering the perfect viewpoint to see all the action.

Taking place every December, the Geminids meteor shower is one of the most prolific that can be seen from the UK, with hundreds of meteors lighting up the sky throughout the night.

Sitting at the edge of the Northumberland National Park, Battlesteads observatory has some of the clearest views of the night skies and is an official Dark Sky Discovery Site – meaning on a good night you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye.

With the best chance to see an earthgrazer (a slow-moving, long-lasting meteor) in the early evening, guests can enjoy the stargazing before retreating to the Battlesteads restaurant for a three-course dinner featuring fresh, local produce, home-grown vegetables, a choice of local ales and carefully chosen wine list.

To celebrate the meteor shower, Battlesteads is offering a special one-night hotel, dinner and stargazing package on Sunday 13 December, for just £80 per person based on two people sharing a room. An optional upgrade to one of the hotel’s new eco lodges is also available, for £40 per room supplement.

Battlesteads is the only hotel in the UK to have an on-site observatory, which can accommodate up to 25 budding or seasoned astronomers and is equipped with the latest telescopes chosen for their technical prowess and ease of use.

The observatory runs courses targeted at all levels of stargazer, from introductory ‘Get to know your telescope’ sessions to sessions focusing on identifying and tracking some of the night-sky’s star performers.