Dumfries Museum is offering an exciting opportunity for visitors to stargaze and navigate the night sky in a special event organised by museum staff and members of the Dumfries Astronomy Society. The event will take place for three hours in the evening at the museum, providing a unique experience high above the town. Participants will have the chance to learn about Robbie Waland, one of the region’s renowned scientists, and explore the museum’s connections to astronomy.
The museum, which is centred around the town’s former observatory, will host the evening gatherings featuring artefacts related to astronomy, along with informative talks by the staff. The event, open to all ages, will run from 6pm to 9pm on select dates, with no booking required. While admission is free, donations to the Dumfries Astronomy Society are welcomed. To ensure comfort during the event, hot drinks will be available, and attendees are advised to dress warmly and bring waterproof clothing.
Throughout the evening, Dumfries Astronomy Society will offer guidance on observing celestial objects with the naked eye, binoculars, and telescopes. The museum holds a collection of items donated by Robbie Waland, a Dumfries-born optical engineer and astronomer known for his contributions to lunar mapping for the Apollo Space Missions. The original telescope used by the Dumfries and Maxwelltown Astronomical Society in 1836 is still on display at the museum’s observatory.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn basic navigation techniques to identify features in the night sky from the museum’s latitude, including how these features change throughout the winter months. Robbie Waland’s legacy includes his pioneering work in constructing advanced telescopes, such as the Schmidt-Casegrain telescope, which revolutionised astronomical photography.
Robbie’s expertise extended to designing optics for research telescopes used in planetary studies. His dedication to advancing our understanding of space led to the naming of an asteroid in his honour. Following his passing in 1999, he bequeathed items and funding to Dumfries Museum, contributing to the preservation of astronomical history.
The event at Dumfries Museum promises an enlightening and immersive experience for all attendees, offering a glimpse into the fascinating world of astronomy and paying tribute to the remarkable achievements of Robbie Waland.