How to Find or Contact the Astronomy Section Observatory in Guernsey

The Astronomy Section of La Société Guernesiaise runs the David Le Conte Astronomical Observatory in Guernsey, and the site provides three practical routes: a Find Us page for location details, a Contact Us page with a contact form for enquiries, and a Group Visits page for arranging a visit. Use the contact form for general questions, and the group visits route if you want to bring an organised party.

Finding the Observatory

The site's navigation includes a dedicated Find Us page, which is the place to start for location details. The observatory itself is a timber-framed building with a roll-off roof, equipped with a research-grade 16-inch Meade telescope and a 5-inch Takahashi refractor on a computer-controlled mount.

If you are planning a first trip, check the Home page beforehand for event news — the site uses this space to announce open evenings and seasonal events. For example, a Halloween open evening at the observatory was advertised on the homepage with a "Learn more" link. The Gallery pages (The Moon, The Planets, Comets & Meteors, Conjunctions, The Sun, Deep Space, and an All-Sky Camera) give a sense of what the equipment and site can show, which helps set expectations for a visit.

Contacting the Section

The site lists a Contact Us page with a Contact Form. This is the general enquiry route for questions about the section, membership, or events. The section describes itself as welcoming everyone with an interest in the night sky, from absolute beginners to experienced astronomers, so introductory questions are appropriate.

Arranging a Group Visit

The navigation includes a Group Visits page. The section states that it opens the observatory for visiting groups and for open events, and that as a charity it appreciates voluntary donations from visiting groups to help with costs. If you represent a school, club, or other group, use the group visits route rather than the general form so your request reaches the right people.

Attending Meetings as a Visitor

The section meets weekly on Tuesdays at 8pm through most of the year. Meetings include talks by members or guest speakers, discussions, practical activities, and observational sessions when weather allows — all described as beginner-friendly. The site states that visitors are warmly welcomed to scheduled meetings; check the Home page or contact the section to confirm a specific date before travelling.

Joining the Section

Membership is open to anyone with a passion for the stars, with two conditions:

Current and previous newsletter editions are available on the Newsletters page, and the Articles page covers topics such as the ISS. The section also maintains an Officers page listing section officers and roles if you need a specific contact.

Quick Reference

• Location details: Find Us page
• General enquiries: Contact Us page / contact form
• Organised visits: Group Visits page
• Event news and images: Home and Gallery pages
• Membership and publications: Newsletters and Articles pages
• Section roles: Officers page

The section is an active group of approximately 60 members, founded in 1972, and is a member of the British Astronomical Association and the Federation of Astronomical Societies.