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Dark Sky Observatory Team - AstroVentures
Roy Alexander
Director of Learning & Lead Astronomer
Roy is a degree qualified planetary physicist and teacher who is passionate about teaching astronomy, physics and science. For Roy astronomy is about showing someone something new and awesome in a telescope and seeing their reaction.
- Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society 2014,
- Physics Lecturer/teacher with experience in secondary schools and colleges since 1995.
- An amateur astronomer since the age of 9 - particularly love meteor showers and satellite spotting.
- Lead astronomer at Kielder Observatory 2013-14
- Member of Sunderland Astronomical Society.
- BSc (Hons) Geophysics & Planetary Physics, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne,
- Current DBS to work with children and adults.
Chris Duffy
Director, Lead Astronomer & Astrophotographer
Chris is the astrophotography director at AstroVentures, an expert astrophotographer and astronomy teacher with a passion for Dark Sky objects.
- IT Manager & with nearly 30 years experience of people development and training. A keen amateur astronomer for over 40 years,
- A committee member of Sunderland Astronomical Society, Chris gives expert talks and presentations to society members and the public at the society's outreach events,
- Chris has been specialising in deep sky astrophotography for the last 5 years and is recognised as an accomplished photographer of faint distant objects using long exposure techniques,
- He is one of the lead astronomers at Battlesteads since it's opening in 2015 and hosts the monthly astrophotography courses at the observatory.
Martin Kitching
Lead Astronomer & Nightscape Photographer
Martin is a published nature and landscape photographer, with years of experience and specialising in night sky photography.
- A Northumberland National Park Starmaker from its inception, and experienced stargazing tour host,
- Over 20 years qualified science teacher and STEM educator,
- Published photographer, editor and author of Birds in Northumbria,
- He is one of the lead astronomers at Battlesteads since it's opening in 2015 and hosts the regular nightscape photography courses at the observatory.
