Mills Observatory saw a HUGE turnout as crowds queued in their droves to witness the Planet Parade
- Andrew Batchelor
- Mar 1
- 2 min read
Mills Observatory saw an overwhelming turnout this evening as visitors gathered on Balgay Hill to witness the Planet Parade.
Pictures showed long queues forming outside the observatory as the seven planet parade made its way back into the night sky for the last time on this scale until 2040.
“Totally crazy up there”
People commented on Dundee Culture about what was happening at the observatory - and there was a lot of interesting stories!
“We arrived about 7.30 and huge queues, we weren't sure if we'd get to see anything but hope prevailed! When the staff said they were staying as long as need be they got huge cheers!
There was good camaraderie, waiting in the balcony the anticipation was palpable.
We got up to the telescope just before 10. A long night but was fun and got to see Mars at the end of it! three cheers for the dedicated staff!”
Another spoke of the atmosphere being “totally crazy”:
“It was totally crazy up there. I saw Saturn from the balcony telescope and Mars in the dome.
It was literally 10pm when we got in the dome and only because the staff decided to not let us down after all our wait and they worked late.”
A third person raised awareness of the need to donate and continue ton
“It was mega busy tonight! We got there about 7pm and from leaving our car at the top car park we queued for about an hour and a half before actually getting to look through the telescope to see Jupiter.
It was great to see so many children there too all patiently waiting in line. I wonder how many people actually made a donation though!?
We donated and filled in the gift aid form too. I think it would have been great if they could have had someone actually manning the donation box encouraging people to donate and reminding them the place could close if it doesn't get financial support.
I wonder how many people have been this week alone?”
A resurgence like no other
The strong attendance highlights the impact of social media and word of mouth in driving engagement which has led to a resurgence for the the observatory this season following the threat of closure that it faced this time last year.
With growing enthusiasm for its events, Mills Observatory continues to experience that resurgence, reinforcing its role as a key attraction for both locals and visitors as it heads into its 90th anniversary season later this October.
With March being the final month of the observatory’s operations for the season, now is the time to visit the observatory and see the wonders of the stars.
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