On the top of a hill, looking down on Northumberland’s beautiful Kielder Water reservoir, a group of people wait in a car park next to a strange wooden building. They are looking for darkness and this is Kielder Observatory, the center of Britain’s latest industry – astrotourism. The people waiting outside are the lucky ones. Many more apply for a night of stargazing at the observatory but numbers are strictly limited. Inside, under a dim light, the observatory’s founder and lead astronomer, Gary Fildes, delivers a speech to his colleagues. The team discusses the prospect of seeing the northern lights but Fildes is doubtful. Instead, they decide to use their powerful telescopes to observe Jupiter and Venus and, later, to pick out stars such as Capella and Betelgeuse. An additional attraction is the appearance of the International Space Station.
What does Fildes’ team decide to do?
Observe Jupiter and Venus Observe the northern lights Wait for more visitors to arrive from the car park Observe the moon