Sarah Dowd heads to Kielder Observatory to meet Chief Executive Leigh Venus and Director of Astronomy and Communications Dan Pye
Sarah Dowd heads to Kielder Observatory to meet Chief Executive Leigh Venus and Director of Astronomy and Communications Dan Pye, exploring how our obsession with the cosmos travels from Caroline Herschel’s groundbreaking work to Star Trek marathons and why that journey matters.
Expect childhood wonder, Space Precinct nostalgia, a cameo in 28 Years Later, light pollution villains (including one notorious petrol station), and celebrating sixty years of Star Trek. Plus: why dark skies aren’t just for scientists, they’re for everyone.
Here are the highlights:
00:00 From starships to stargazers: framing the big cosmic questions
01:19 Leigh Venus on childhood astronomy and finding “home” at Kielder
05:10 Dan Pye’s unlikely journey: Hubble models and a sci-fi themed café
15:27 Why crossing the threshold of a science venue can transform a life
16:58 Kielder is not a research observatory, but an arts and astronomy hub
19:04 TV fame, and the boom-and-bust cycle of astro-tourism
20:13 When COVID hit: podcasting, virtual stargazing, the Lottery lifeline
22:21 Why people travel (and rebook) just for the Kielder night sky
22:40 Celebrating sixty years of Star Trek
25:42 Kielder’s involvement with TV and movies
31:04 How Kielder keeps light pollution at bay
35:42 Humanity’s relationship with the night sky from cave art to calendars
37:28 Caroline Herschel’s story, the first woman to be paid or astronomy
43:52 The blend of science, theatre, and education by stealth
46:43 AR, immersive tech, and never taking the sky too seriously.
About Leigh Venus:
A lapsed geneticist, Leigh Venus has worked across the North East culture and heritage sector since 2009, with senior roles at the RNLI, Jarrow Hall, and Tyneside Cinema. A trustee for the Kielder Water and Forest Park Development Trust and London’s Vagina Museum, he is now CEO of Kielder Observatory, proud custodian of this very special place, creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds to experience wonder through observing the cosmos.
About Dan Pye:
Obsessed with the stars since his mum took him to his local observatory in Pontefract, where he first glimpsed Mars and the Moon’s mountain ranges, Dan’s career spanned broadcasting, retail, and running a science-themed café in Durham. A voice actor heard across UK television, radio, and video games worldwide, he now specialises at Kielder Observatory in Observational Astronomy, Planetary Sciences, Astrophotography, and Meteorites.
Connect with Kielder Observatory:
Website: https://kielderobservatory.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kielderobservatory
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ0NTXssdA4CJI-syX1lFfg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KielderObservatory
About Sarah Dowd:
I’m Sarah Dowd – writer, speaker, heritage and arts consultant, producer, and all-around nerd – here to share the stories of our past that make us laugh, gasp, and mutter: It’s History… For F***k’s Sake.
For 25+ years I’ve created immersive, inclusive experiences that bring history alive, from rallying Second World War convoys through London to staging performances between Pearly Kings and Gen Z creatives. My work spans museums, cathedral crypts, pop-up theatres, global brands, and community projects across the UK and beyond.
As a Canadian living between the UK and France (with a late ADHD diagnosis that fuels my curiosity and creativity), I zigzag through culture, history, and big ideas, but never boring ones.
Every week on HistoryFFS, we explore how history echoes through today, make sure you are following the show so you don’t miss an episode.
Connect with Sarah:
Website:www.historyffs.com
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahdowd/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/historyffs-pod/
Substack: @historyffs
YouTube: @HistoryFFSPod
Instagram: @historyFFSPod
TikTok: @historyffspod
Bluesky: @historyffs.bsky.social
Sarah Dowd heads to Kielder Observatory to meet Chief Executive Leigh Venus and Director of Astronomy and Communications Dan Pye, exploring how our obsession with the cosmos travels from Caroline Herschel’s groundbreaking work to Star Trek marathons and why that journey matters.
Expect childhood wonder, Space Precinct nostalgia, a cameo in 28 Years Later, light pollution villains (including one notorious petrol station), and celebrating sixty years of Star Trek. Plus: why dark skies aren’t just for scientists, they’re for everyone.
About Leigh Venus:
A lapsed geneticist, Leigh Venus has worked across the North East culture and heritage sector since 2009, with senior roles at the RNLI, Jarrow Hall, and Tyneside Cinema. A trustee for the Kielder Water and Forest Park Development Trust and London’s Vagina Museum, he is now CEO of Kielder Observatory, proud custodian of this very special place, creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds to experience wonder through observing the cosmos.
About Dan Pye:
Obsessed with the stars since his mum took him to his local observatory in Pontefract, where he first glimpsed Mars and the Moon’s mountain ranges, Dan’s career spanned broadcasting, retail, and running a science-themed café in Durham. A voice actor heard across UK television, radio, and video games worldwide, he now specialises at Kielder Observatory in Observational Astronomy, Planetary Sciences, Astrophotography, and Meteorites.
Connect with Kielder Observatory:
Website: https://kielderobservatory.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kielderobservatory
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ0NTXssdA4CJI-syX1lFfg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KielderObservatory
About Sarah Dowd:
I’m Sarah Dowd – writer, speaker, heritage and arts consultant, producer, and all-around nerd – here to share the stories of our past that make us laugh, gasp, and mutter: It’s History… For F***k’s Sake.
For 25+ years I’ve created immersive, inclusive experiences that bring history alive, from rallying Second World War convoys through London to staging performances between Pearly Kings and Gen Z creatives. My work spans museums, cathedral crypts, pop-up theatres, global brands, and community projects across the UK and beyond.
As a Canadian living between the UK and France (with a late ADHD diagnosis that fuels my curiosity and creativity), I zigzag through culture, history, and big ideas, but never boring ones.Every week on HistoryFFS, we explore how history echoes through today, make sure you are following the show so you don’t miss an episode. Connect with us! LinkedIn: / historyffs-pod Substack: @historyffs Instagram: @historyFFSPod TikTok: @historyffspod Bluesky: @historyffs.bsky.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhvOyhyFmFk