Visits to the Dick Chambers Sutton-at-Hone Observatory
Visits to the Dick Chambers Sutton-at-Hone Observatory are now available for schools & clubs.
Please contact our Secretary Dr. Mike Rushton by email for details.
The email address is secretary@crayfordmanorastro.com
Please note that visits to the observatory are subject to the weather/viewing conditions and member availability to host.
Below is a list of clubs/schools that have visited the observatory:
Sutton-at-Hone Primary School
Sutton-at-Hone Beavers
Sutton-at-Hone Scouts
Sutton-at-Hone Cubs
MIND
Sutton-at-Hone Guides
9th Dartford Cubs
9th Dartford Beavers
1st Brigden Cubs
Astronomy Outreach with Sutton-at-Hone School
We welcomed the Children of Sutton-at-Hone Primary school to the Dick Chambers Observatory on the 12th December 2018. They had a chance to look through the Peter Hindle telescope and from the photos it looks like they had a great time, whilst learning a bit about the science of Astronomy. Parental permission given for all images used. [Show...
The 9th Dartford Cubs visit
The 9th Dartford Cubs visit to the Dick Chambers Sutton-at-Hone Observatory On the 16th March 2016, the 9th Dartford Cubs visited the Dick Chambers Sutton at Hone Observatory. CMHASD members Rita Whiting, Andy Barber, Steve Goldstone & Honor Wheeler were present. Honor spoke about the Stars & Solar Observing, Rita spoke about the Solar...
Public Events
The purpose of these events is to provide an opportunity for members of the public to look through our telescopes* generally at the Sun (please note safety) as most events happen during day light hours and the planets and Moon if available.
We also provide activities for children, advice to youngsters taking GCSEs in Science and in Astronomy, Scout and Guiding groups on Astronomy badges and adults on the use of their telescopes or how to start out in this fascinating science of astronomy.
Generally we will have on show telescopes of various types and sizes, binoculars, meteorites and our own work.
On an average day we can expect to speak to well over 100 people and share views through our telescopes with many, many more.
*All equipment provided for public use is owned by our members – as our society funds do not extend to paying for such equipment.
Below are a list of public events we have attended. More are to be added.
Solar Observing at Hall Place & Gardens – Sunday 6th August 2023
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely. Sunday 6th August 2023 – What a glorious day to be out solar observing which is what Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society Dartford (CMHASD) where doing at Hall Place & Gardens in Bexley. What a busy day it was too! Several telescopes were...
CMHASD Star Gazing at Hall Place & Gardens – 2022, Nov 30.
On Wednesday 30th November 2022, CMHASD were back at Hall Place & Gardens to hold a star gazing event. We had brilliant support from our members – thanks to all – who bought along a variety of telescopes, cameras, meteorites and other displays for our guests. We had over 33 ticket-holders to entertain and those who arrived early...
Partial Solar Eclipse – 2022 Oct 25 – Open Morning at the Pavilion
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely. On Tuesday 25th October 2022, CMHASD held an Open Morning at the Parsonage Lane Pavilion for members & members of the public to view the rare spectacle of a Partial Solar Eclipse visible from the UK. It turned out to be an absolutely fantastic day and...
CMHASD supporting the BAA at New Scientist Live 2022
Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society Dartford (CMHASD) were out in force at the recent New Scientist Live event at ExCel Centre, London Docklands on the 7th to 9th October 2022. We were there to help the British Astronomical Association (BAA), in which we have many members; on their stand in the Cosmos Section this year. ...
Cosmic Camp 2022
Several society members attended Shears Green Junior School on Friday 23rd September 2022 with their own or a society telescope to take part in the school’s ‘Cosmic Camp’. Below are 2 accounts of the evening by CMHASD members Diane Clarke and Gary Hunt who both helped at the event. Diane wrote ”The Society was invited for its...
CMHASD Solar Observing at Hall Place & Gardens – Saturday 20th Aug 2022
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely. On Saturday the 20th of August several members of the Society were present for the second of our 2 solar observing sessions at Hall Place & Gardens. The event took place on the patio with a small farmers market close to the gallery so there was a...
Solar Observing at Hall Place, Bexley – Sun 7th Aug 2022
Sunday 7th August 2022 – What a glorious sunny day to be out Solar Observing which is what Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society Dartford (CMHASD) where doing at Hall Place in Bexley. What a busy day it was too! Several telescopes were set up to observe the Sun safely and members of the public were invited to do some solar...
Dartford’s Big Day Out – July 2022
On the 16th July 2022 Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society Dartford (CMHASD) exhibited at Dartford’s Big Day Out in Central Park, Dartford. It was an extremely busy & interesting day. Several members of the public took the opportunity to drop by for a chat, observe the current activity on the surface of our...
Cosmic Camp 2021
Eight society members attended Shear Green Junior School on Friday 17th with either their own or society telescopes (6 in total) to take part in their ‘Cosmic Camp’. We observed the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn and put on two different Astronomy activities in the school hall related to the solar system. seventy five, nine to ten year-old...
Dartford Grammar School Astronomy Club – Virtual Observing Session
Our society currently supports the Dartford Grammar School Astronomy Club, and on the 25th January 2021 we held a virtual observing evening using Simon’s observatory. The students really enjoyed the evening ‘The boys from last night have been on the google classroom leaving you rave reviews’ ‘Last night blew...
Star gazing at Hall Place
It was horizon – horizon cloud last Wednesday for the sold out star gazing event at Hall Place, however we were prepared for this and along with comet making, we held sessions on drawing objects in the night sky and a variety of talks about astronomy. We had brilliant support from our members – thanks to all – who bought a...
“Fun Palace” event at Bexleyheath Library
As part of our public outreach, a few of us represented the Society at a “Fun Palace” event at Bexleyheath Library on Saturday. These relatively low-key events are intended to showcase small, local interest groups such as arts & crafts, therapies, lizard / snake keeping and in our case, all things Astronomy! We had a...
Solar Observing at Hall Place Summer 2019
A big thanks to everyone who supported both of the recent Hall Place Solar Observing events which were an exciting mixture of hide and seek as far as the sun was concerned, but both in their own way very successful. We had sideways rain at 1100 yesterday (18th August 2019), so we set displays up indoors for about half an hour, after which we...
Back to Basics Workshop
We hosted The 2018 British Astronomical Association Back to Basics workshop on 6th October. These workshops are great for beginners just starting out in astronomy and wanting to learn how to use their telescopes or get started in Astronomy and over 50 people turned up – well done and thank you to all the Crayford Members who helped out....
Astronomy Fun Day at the Priory Centre Dartford
The Society took part in an Astronomy Fun Day on Saturday 25th August 2018 at the Priory Shopping Centre to promote Astronomy, and encourage locals to visit the shopping centre, the day was well attended and along with CMHASD was an inflatable planetarium. During the day we were promoting the BAA Back to basics workshop we are supporting in...
Solar Observing at Hall Place – August 2018
The Society were at Hall Place on Sunday 19 August 2018 showing members of the public the Sun using safe observing techniques and talking to people about Astronomy in general. Whilst there was a fair amount of cloud about and the Sun was playing ‘hide-and-seek’ the day was a massive success. The Society were at Hall Place on...
Braeburn Open Day 2016
Braeburn Park Nature Reserve Open Day On Sunday 10th July 2016, CMHASD members Honor Wheeler, Rita Whiting, Diane Clarke and Andy Barber attended the Open Day at Braeburn Park on behalf of the Society. It was a busy day for members as there was lots of interest about what we do as a society and members had set their solar scopes allowing many...
The Dartford Festival, Central Park, Dartford – July 2016
Saturday 16th July & Sunday 17th July 2016. It turned out to be one hot weekend!!! Plus top it off, the Sun had a superb selection of sunspots on both days so plenty of solar observing was done with the public 🙂 This years festival was the first time that the Society had attended by purchasing its own stall space, instead of being set-up in...
Dartford Steam Festival 2015
Dartford Annual Steam & Classic Vehicle Festival – Saturday 9th May 2015 What a great day! Once again, CHMASD were at the Dartford Annual Steam & Classic Vehicle Festival in commemoration of the life and work of Richard Trevithick, steam pioneer, inventor, engineer and one time resident of Dartford. It was a fun & very busy day...
Stargazing at the Orchards Shopping Centre, Dartford – Saturday 21st February 2015
On Saturday 21st February 2015, Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society Dartford hosted a fun filled activity day & evening for all ages at The Orchards Shopping Centre in Dartford. Below is the ebulletin release by Trustee & Publicity Officer Honor Wheeler who was instrumental in ensuring that the event took place & run as smoothly...
Below are more events we have attended in the past. If written in blue click on it to see more information & photos of the day.
CMHASD Star Gazing at Hall Place, Bexleyheath – Wednesday, 11th January 2017
Sutton-at-Hone Parish Council Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration – Sunday 12th June 2016
The Transit of Mercury Open Day 2016 – 9th May 2016
Stargazing 2 – Oct 2015
Dartford Festival 2015
Mote Park, Stargazing 2015
Dartford Show 2014
Dartford Show 2013
Danson Park 2011
Danson Park 2010
Dartford Show 2010