Eyes to the sky at Dumfries Museum

Learn from Dumfries Astronomy Society and Dumfries Museum staff at the two evening stargazing events using telescopes
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Stargazing and navigating the night sky are being offered in a three-hour evening special at Dumfries Museum on Rotchell Road on the next two Saturdays, October 12 and 19.

Museum staff and members of the Dumfries Astronomy Society are taking advantage of the site high above the town to offer an out of this world experience and the chance to learn about one of the region’s greatest scientists, Robbie Waland, and the building’s connections to astronomy.

Dumfries Museum was originally established by the Dumfries and Maxwelltown Astronomical Society back in 1836 and their original telescope can still be seen today in the observatory room.

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The museum is centred around the town’s former observatory and the evenings will include the chance to explore some related artefacts – with short talks given by staff through the evening.

The gatherings – which are free admission, though donations to Dumfries Astronomy Society would be appreciated – are open to all ages, from 6pm to 9pm. No need to book – just turn up.

Dumfries-born Robert Waland with the Schmidt telescopes which helped him go on to map the moon's surface for the Apollo Space Mission
Dumfries-born Robert Waland with the Schmidt telescopes which helped him go on to map the moon's surface for the Apollo Space Mission

Hot drinks will be available to help keep out the chill and organisers are warnings that warm clothing should be worn, along with waterproofs.

During the course of the evening, Dumfries Astronomy Society will be teaching what we can see with the naked eye, binoculars and telescopes.

And, as well as using the equipment, there will be the chance to learn how to find some basic features to navigate around the night sky from our latitude and how this revolves throughout the winter months.

Among the museum’s collection are items gifted by the late Dumfries-born Robbie Waland who is famed for making advances in the study of astronomy and mapped the moon’s surface for the Apollo Space Missions.

He created the telescope which was used to map the moon to make it possible for Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to take their famous walk.

Dumfries astronomer and scientist Robert Waland with his mother outside his observatory in his garden
Dumfries astronomer and scientist Robert Waland with his mother outside his observatory in his garden

Born in Leafield Road in Dumfries, Robbie took up his hobby in a garden shed, enjoying astronomy and creating telescopes.

From a homemade “Dumfries Telescope” he created in 1945, he went on to construct the revolutionary and world-famous Schmidt-Casegrain telescope in St Andrew’s University Observatory which, for the first time, accurately photographed and recorded stars millions of light years away.

In 1962 he moved to Tucson, USA, to become a research associate to the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory of the University of Arizona with his work closely linked to America’s space programme.

Robbie designed and constructed optics for a 61- inch reflecting telescope for planetary research and it was used to compile an atlas of the moon.

He went on to conduct research on an electronic telescope for use on the satellites launched by the space shuttle and in 1992 had an asteroid named after him.

As an optical engineer and astronomer Robert Waland helped man walk on the moon’s surface for the first time. He is pictured at his Dumfries home with the 6 inch refracting telescope he took 12 years to create, completing it in 1945
As an optical engineer and astronomer Robert Waland helped man walk on the moon’s surface for the first time. He is pictured at his Dumfries home with the 6 inch refracting telescope he took 12 years to create, completing it in 1945

He died in 1999 at the age of 90 and gifted many items to Dumfries Museum and also cash which was used to help buy the telescope which is in operation at the museum.