Hanwell Community Observatory

  • First Small Public Viewing

    On Saturday evening HCO welcomed our first small group of residents from Hanwell village, our next step to bringing the 30″ reflecting telescope into greater public use.

    The weather was kind with a clear sky overhead and the group were able to enjoy fine views of the Moon, Jupiter and the Orion Nebula, over a couple of hours, with pleasing views of each but with most of the “Wow” moments reserved for Jupiter. 

    Thank you to our visitors for taking part and our HCO volunteer hosts. We hope everyone enjoyed their evening and we look forward to welcoming our next group of visitors before too long.

    Jupiter taken by Amy Charles, one of our visitors at the eyepiece at our public stargazing using the 30" telescope. 28 February 2026.
    The moon taken by Amy Charles, one of our visitors at the eyepiece at our public stargazing using the 30" telescope. 28 February 2026.

    The images of the moon and Jupiter were taken by Amy Charles, one of our visitors at the eyepiece. The photos of the telescope and visitors were taken by Derek Adams.

  • A New Red Glow

    This photograph shows the HCO 30 inch telescope bathed in a gentle red glow. This comes from a series of red LED lights placed around the telescope because the naked eye is not sensitive to red light, unlike white light which damages the essential dark adaption for star gazing. It also addresses the safety of viewers on the site.  Member Rob Sayer made and fitted the lights.

    The photograph was taken by Dave Rose, on Sunday 22 February 2026 using a long exposure feature on his mobile phone.

  • Thank you for attending Stars and Snowdrops

    Hanwell Community Observatory (HCO) wants to say a huge thank you to all those who visited for the re-launch of our annual Stars and Snowdrops event. It was great to welcome back those who have waited patiently for the reopening and to meet those who had never been before. We hope that you enjoyed all aspects of the visit.

    It is, of course, a lot of work to put these events on but it is entirely worth while thanks to all of you. It was, personally, very hard to do this for the first time without Christopher but I know that he would have been thrilled by the turnout. And the funds raised will be used to support the work of the observatory and of the Archaeology. Do let us know if you are interested either in joining the HCO group and its outreach work or in arranging your own star gazing party – minimum of ten visitors. 

    We shall be open again the 19th and 20th September when we shall be playing host to the Sealed Knot and the seventeenth century Living History event. There will be craft stalls all the way up the drive, another pop up museum and music from the period, as well as tea and cake. The garden looks very different of course in the early autumn but you may be interested to enjoy it at another time of year.

    On behalf of us all, we look forward to welcoming you again.

    Rowena E Taylor

  • Stars and Snowdrops 2026

    Stars & Snowdrops
    Hanwell Castle near Banbury, Oxon OX17 1HN

    14th-15th February 2026
    Saturday: midday–5pm
    Sunday: 10.30am– 5pm

    Come and enjoy a woodland walk in our ancient snowdrop colony,
    meet the archaeologists, and visit Hanwell Community Observatory.

    Teas by a huge log fire.

    Adults £5 • Under 18s £2.50
    Under 5s FREE • Teas £4
    SORRY – NO DOGS

    STOUT FOOTWEAR IS ESSENTIAL

    Please note that there is no general public parking on the site, only limited parking for those needing disabled access. We ask all visitors to please park outside the castle grounds. There is disabled parking only down the drive so please ask at the entrance. BUT remember this is a landscaped area and not suitable for wheelchairs.

    There will be public parking behind St Peter’s church, the access is at the end of Gullicote Lane and it will be clearly signposted. We want as many as possible to park here in preference to parking on the narrow village streets though there is some space at the approaches and both ends of the village.  Please park with consideration of the Hanwell residents.

    Directions to the event: Visiting the Observatory

  • Website Update in Progress

    We are in the process of rebuilding the website after a server failure caused the loss of the previous site. This may take a little time.

    In the meantime here is a link to information on our upcoming event Stars and Snowdrops 2026 and directions to HCO Visiting the Observatory.

  • An Update

    To all those who have supported Hanwell Community Observatory:

    We are grateful to all the people who have supported HCO since we opened the grounds in 2005 for the first ‘Stars and Snowdrops’ Event. Thousands of you have come in often pretty inclement weather. Others have also attended star gazing events. We have loved meeting you all and some have joined the group from these events.

    We were unable to open in 2020 and have not opened for ‘Stars and Snowdrops’ since then but we should like to get back to events. Apart from COVID, things were complicated by the need to care for an aged parent with all the stress this brings but, it is with the greatest sadness that we have to report that on 18 December 2024 Christopher Taylor, the founder and Director of HCO, died after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. HCO and, especially the younger members of the group, are determined to keep his legacy going and we remain committed to public outreach in astronomy.

    It is our hope that we shall be able to run ‘Stars and Snowdrops’ in 2026 on our usual second weekend in February – 14th and 15th February. Please tell all your friends and help us to advertise and make this a success.

    Rowena E Taylor