Roy Alexander BSc, FRAS, MInstP, IDA Delegate

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,
• International Dark Sky Association Delegate (UK),
• Founding Director for Battlesteads Dark Sky Discovery Observatory,
• Director of Learning – AstroVentures CIC,
• Co-Founder of Northumberland Dark Sky Festival,
• Physics lecturer & teacher in secondary schools and colleges since 1995,
• Amateur astronomer since the age of 9 – particularly love meteor showers and the Moon,
• Lead astronomer at Kielder Observatory 2013-14,
• Member of the Institute of Physics,
• BSc (Hons) Geophysics & Planetary Physics, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne,
• Current DBS to work with children and adults,
• STEM Ambassador & Schools Mentor,
• Published Science Writer & Photographer.

Chris Duffy FRAS

Director, Lead Astronomer & Astrophotographer

Chris is the astrophotography director at AstroVentures and Director of Battlesteads Dark Sky Discovery Observatory. He is an expert astrophotographer and astronomy teacher with a passion for Dark Sky objects.

• Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society,
• Chairperson of Sunderland Astronomical Society, Chris gives expert talks and presentations to society members and the public at the society’s outreach events,
• Director of Battlesteads Observatory,
• Dark Sky Astrophotographer; Chris has been specialising in deep sky astrophotography for the last 5 years and is recognised as an accomplished photographer of dark sky objects using long exposure techniques,
• Keen amateur astronomer for over 40 years,
• IT Manager & with nearly 30 years experience of people development and training.

Dr. Martin Kitching FRAS

Director, Lead Astronomer & Nightscape Photographer

Martin is the Director and Senior Guide at Northern Experience Wildlife Tours (NEWT) and a Director of AstroVentures.

He divides his time between leading wildlife, landscape and photography day tours, workshops and delivering sessions on a range of astronomy topics for AstroVentures CIC and coordinating the North East Cetacean Project. He is a published nature and landscape photographer, with years of experience and specialising in night sky photography.

• Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society,
• Over 25 years qualified science teacher and STEM educator,
• Published photographer, editor and author of Birds in Northumbria,
• Central to coordinating the groundbreaking North East Cetacean Project,
• Battlesteads Observatory Lead Astronomer since 2015,
• International Dark Sky Association Delegate (UK),
• Nightscape Photography Director,
• BSc & PhD Medicinal Chemistry, PGCE & science teacher.

Jimmy McPartland

Lead Astronomer & Astrophotographer

Jimmy has been an amateur astronomer since 1997 when he first used his grandparents binoculars to watch the incredible Hale Bopp comet that year.

• Studied Practical Astronomy – LJMU and Einstein’s theory of special relativity with Stanford,
• Kielder Observatory volunteer and Lead Astronomer – 2015 to 2018,
• Over 20 years as an astronomer and registered STEM ambassador,
• Expert mobile phone astrophotographer,
• Battlesteads Observatory Lead Astronomer,
• Current DBS to work with children and adults,

Dave Newton BSc FRAS

Lead Astronomer

• BSc Astrophysics at Newcastle University, learning his way around the sky with the 4.5 inch refractor and 24 inch reflector at Close House Observatory,
• Dave was a founder member of the Sunderland Astronomical Society in 1993 and was the President of the Society until 2018,
• Kielder Observatory lead astronomer 2012 – 2014, delivering events and managing the observatory (supporting the then Director of the obs),
• A keen visual deep-sky astronomer,
• A qualified science teacher, he has lectured widely on astronomy and physics, and he previously delivered the astronomy class at Astley High School,
• His interests include galaxies, the structure of the cosmos and the long term evolution of the universe,
• Dave has built a number of fully working telescopes, despite his limited woodworking skills!

Outside of astronomy, Dave works in the Government Project Delivery profession and is currently involved with project leadership training and professional capability. He has a number of hobbies, including playing guitar as loudly as he can get away with.