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10
Dec
Stars of astronomy recognised with Sir Patrick Moore Prize
Three of the key figures behind the Lime Tree Observatory in Grewelthorpe, near Ripon, have been awarded a prestigious prize by the British Astronomical Society (BAA).
Chris Higgins, John Roberts and Martin Whipp, who are all volunteer astronomers at the facility, attended the Christmas meeting of the BAA on Saturday and were presented with the Sir Patrick Moore Prize for the encouragement of a popular interest in astronomy.
The telescope dome at Lime Tree Farm.
The prize is awarded annually and comes with £500, a certificate, and year’s free membership of the BAA. It was inaugurated in 2013, the year after the death of Sir Patrick Moore, who was Britain’s best-known astronomer and hosted the BBC's The Sky at Night, for 55 years.
The planetarium at the Lime Tree Observatory.
Mr Higgins told the Stray Ferret:
John and I are retired, and Martin still works full time, but we all give up a lot of time to construct and maintain the observatory, and to engage with the public and educate youngsters about astronomy.
We’re very passionate about what we do, so this is really important to us. To see children in particular who are enthused by it, and to receive an award for what we do, is an excellent thing.
The Lime Tree Observatory benefits from the Yorkshire Dales' International Dark Skies status.
The Lime Tree Observatory opened to the public in 2016 and has long been popular with visitors from schools, the scouting movement and U3A.
It is located within the Nidderdale National Landscape (formerly the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and is just five miles from the eastern edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, which has been awarded International Dark Skies status.
The observatory and planetarium – which was built by the three prize-winners – are maintained and run under the governance of Lime Tree Farm Earth & Sky, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company.
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