Who needs the stars and planets when you’ve got buildings? That seemed to be the theme of the day as the Flamsteed Astronomy Society took part in the Winter Solstice Festival at Greenwich Park on Saturday 21st December. Leaden skies dominated for most of the event, with a brief cameo appearance from Jupiter in the final hour. But despite the celestial no-show, the crowds came - and they kept coming!
From midday to 6pm, we faced a seemingly never-ending queue of enthusiastic visitors, eager to take a peek through our telescopes. And what were we showing them? Not stars, not planets, but buildings. Yes, buildings! The sight of the domes of the Old Royal Naval College, the weather vane atop Flamsteed House, or even office buildings in Canary Wharf through a telescope turned out to be an unexpected crowd-pleaser. Who knew that terrestrial architecture could be so thrilling when magnified?
Bobby’s restored wooden telescope, made from repurposed military hardware, was a particular highlight. Its unique design caught the attention of visitors, and, like the other telescopes, it drew long queues of people eager to take a look - even if it was just at nearby buildings or clocks!
A couple of hours into the event, I finally got a chance to step back and take a proper look around our two stalls, positioned on either side of the General Wolfe statue. To my surprise, there was a huge queue stretching across the Greenwich Park viewpoint, all patiently waiting for a turn at Tej’s telescope. Tej, completely absorbed in chatting with visitors, was blissfully unaware of the growing line. When I pointed it out, he was as surprised as I was! Quickly, we switched into “public solar viewing” mode, doing our best to keep the queue moving while still giving everyone a great experience.
For those who weren’t captivated by terrestrial views, we kept the astronomy spirit alive by displaying stunning images captured by our smart telescopes and chatting about the wonders of the universe. The public loved it. Questions poured in about how telescopes work, how to get started in astronomy, and even how to join our society. Many visitors scanned QR codes to learn more, demonstrating a keen interest in the Flamsteed Astronomy Society.
By the end of the event, the Royal Parks were thrilled with the turnout, and the Royal Observatory Greenwich was delighted with our contribution. It was clear that our stands were among the busiest at the festival - a testament to the enthusiasm of our volunteers and the universal fascination with telescopes, whether they’re pointed at celestial or terrestrial objects!
A massive thank you to our incredible team - Bobby, Clive, Katie, Paul, Phil, Tej, Yvonne, and myself (Mike) - for their tireless efforts. For six-plus hours, we chatted, demonstrated, and shared our passion with thousands of visitors.
While the stars and planets may have hidden, the Winter Solstice Festival proved once again that astronomy - and a little creativity - can captivate anyone. Here’s to clearer skies (and perhaps more buildings?) next time!
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