We are thrilled to present an event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the release of Pink Floyd’s  Dark Side of the Moon on 1st March 1973

6.30pm Childrens’ Activities including rocket Launching while the music  plays…….

6.30pm A great night of music, Moonlover will join us, history and science not all connected!   Link to 1st visit of Moonlover at the Observatory  to record.

The First Photograph of the Far Side of the Moon from 1959 above 

7.30pm A Talk about the Dark side of the Moon after Moonlover plays

First off, Luna 3, the first three-axis stabilized spacecraft, had to reach the Moon to take the pictures, and it had to use a little photocell to orient towards the Moon so that now, while stabilized, it could take the pictures. Which it did. On PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM.

And it gets WILDER because these photos were then moved to a little CHEMICAL PLANT to DEVELOP AND DRY THEM. That’s right, Luna 3 had a little 1 Hour Photo inside. Now you’re thinking, well, how do you get those actual photos back to the Earth?   Astronomer Kevin Hainline.

How indeed? The spacecraft faxed the photos to Earth.

The Moon will be a stunningly beautiful 5 Days Old.

BYO Picnic or try one of our Astronomical treats, BYO chair, umbrella, blanket etc, or maybe even dress for the snow, BE PREPARED for anything outside! This is a family event and no alcohol will be served.

Childrens’ Activities including rocket Launching while the music .