Observatory Bed & Breakfast - “Promising The Moon And Delivering The Stars”

Have you ever looked up at a dark sky, full of stars?  And been overwhelmed by the sight?  The scope of this vast starlit night seems beyond what can be understood. What is our part in this vast universe?

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As you look - and travel - east of Osoyoos, up Anarchist Mountain on Route 3, you’ll see a white observatory off to the northwest of the highway. Intriguing. This is the location of the Observatory Bed & Breakfast.

The home and guest rooms are an adjoining part of it.  There are three very comfortable air conditioned guest rooms each with fridge, a flat screen satellite TV and WiFi.  All have a magnificent patio view of Osoyoos and the valley below.  The patio extends to a  shared outdoor dining area, with a BBQ.  Easy to make yourself at home.

Jack is an internationally renowned astro-photographer. He is a Team Member of the Puckett Observatory World Supernova Search Team, and is credited with well over 200 discoveries/co-discoveries.  Jack is highly regarded in  astronomical circles. As a guest at the Observatory B&B, Jack shares this knowledge with you and treats you to eye-opening insights and astounding telescope views into our universe.

Your journey begins in the evening, at dusk, in their living room, as Jack relates about the universe, its evolution and astronomy.  

The living room takes advantage of the Anarchist Mountain view of Osoyoos and the valley below.  The conversation is a discussion with questions and dialogue welcomed.  It is also the prelude for the telescope viewing to come.

Once darkness settles in, you move upstairs to the telescope dome. The telescope is a computer-controlled, state-of-the-art one that move about by the use of magnets.  Very efficient and quiet.  Jack simply enters the location of the desired address galaxy or star that he wants his guests to look at and the telescope is directed by the computer into position for viewing. The moon, Jupiter, other planets, stars and galaxies are on view in sequence in a generous viewing Jack offers along with an interpretive dialogue of what you are seeing.  It quite something seeing Jupiter  clearly through the telescope with its rings in view!

One evening we sat in the Observatory’s home theatre, with it’s theatre sized screen and magnificent sound system to view an amazing video about the Atacama Large Millimetre Array of telescopes in northern Chile.  It provides fascinating information about the universe that complements what Jack has related.

In the morning, Alice serves a delicious full breakfast enjoyed by all the guests.  After breakfast Jack takes you once again up into the telescope dome for some more viewings.   This is very special, as morning stargazing is not usual.  In our morning viewing we viewed the sun.  We saw a flare off the side of the sun as well as one bursting out of the centre of the sun, the energy of which, Jack advised, would arrive in earth’s atmosphere in four days in Aura Borealis. 

Visiting Jack & Alice Newton’s Observatory B&B is a revelatory experience. Jack’s conversations, discussions and stargazing pulls back the curtain on viewing the universe in a new light.  Stars are born.  Stars die.  The universe is constantly expanding and  evolving .  You get to see the universe as an accomplished astronomer sees it.  And it is fascinating.

Observatory Bed & Breakfast web site: www.jacknewton.com

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