Your ultimate guide to Mills Observatory and it’s 2026/27 stargazing season
Dundee’s historic Mills Observatory is getting ready to reopen its doors for another winter of stargazing – and there’s plenty happening in the skies above the City of Discovery this season.
Mills Observatory will reopen for its 2026/27 observing season on Thursday 1 October, welcoming visitors back to Balgay Hill for stargazing, astronomy events and its popular indoor planetarium shows.
And following the observatory’s landmark 90th anniversary, this year marks the beginning of Season 91 for the UK’s first purpose-built public observatory.
From meteor showers and supermoons to planets and some of the most recognisable sights in our night sky, there should be plenty worth looking up for over the months ahead.
So whether you’ve never been to Mills before or you’re already planning your first visit of the new season, here’s what you need to know.
When does Mills Observatory reopen?
Mills Observatory reopens for its new season on Thursday 1 October 2026.
Located within Balgay Park, the observatory offers panoramic views across Dundee alongside the opportunity to learn more about astronomy and, when conditions allow, observe the night sky through its telescopes.
As anyone who visited during last year’s rather unpredictable weather will know, clear skies are never guaranteed in Dundee!
That’s why Dundee Culture will also be introducing a new feature for Season 91.
Dundee Culture’s new weekly Mills weather tracker
Throughout the 2026/27 observing season, Dundee Culture will publish a weekly stargazing forecast for Mills Observatory, helping visitors identify the nights currently expected to offer the most promising conditions.
Published every Sunday, the tracker will look ahead at conditions for the coming week, particularly cloud cover and the likelihood of clearer skies over Dundee.
Each night will receive a simple outlook, while we’ll highlight the most promising opportunities for stargazing during the week ahead.
Weather can, of course, change very quickly, so our tracker will only reflect forecasts available at the time of publication and won’t guarantee telescope observations.
Our first special opening-week forecast will be published ahead of Mills reopening on 1 October, before the regular Sunday tracker begins.
What’s happening in Dundee’s skies this season?
It looks like we could be in for a fantastic few months of skywatching.
Among the astronomical sights and events highlighted by Mills for the coming season are the Pleiades star cluster, commonly known as the Seven Sisters, alongside the Orionid and Leonid meteor showers.
There’s also a planetary parade involving Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Mercury, while November will bring the Beaver Supermoon.
Exactly what you’ll be able to see will depend on the date, time and – inevitably – Dundee’s weather, but there should be plenty of reasons to keep looking up throughout autumn and winter.
Planetarium shows are returning
You don’t necessarily need clear skies to discover what’s happening above Dundee either.
Mills’ popular indoor planetarium shows will return between October and March, offering visitors a guided journey through the night sky.
Led by the Mills team, the shows explore seasonal constellations, planets and astronomical phenomena, helping visitors understand what they can look out for themselves.
The confirmed 2026/27 dates are:
2 October 2026
16 October 2026
6 November 2026
20 November 2026
4 December 2026
18 December 2026
15 January 2027
29 January 2027
5 February 2027
19 February 2027
5 March 2027
19 March 2027
Planetarium shows are recommended for those aged eight and over.
Tickets cost £3 for adults and £1.50 for children, with places available to book one month in advance.
Anyone wishing to book can contact Mills Observatory directly on 01382 435967.
What else can you do at Mills Observatory?
Of course, there’s much more to Mills than looking through a telescope.
The observatory itself is one of Dundee’s most distinctive buildings and holds a unique place in the city’s history as the UK’s first purpose-built public observatory.
Visitors can explore astronomy inside the building, discover more about the night sky and enjoy the spectacular panoramic views across Dundee from its setting high within Balgay Park.
And when Dundee gives us one of those beautifully crisp and clear winter evenings, there’s nowhere else quite like it.
Welcome to Season 91
Last year was a huge one for Mills Observatory as Dundee celebrated 90 years of this remarkable institution.
But turning 90 wasn’t the end of the story.
Dundee Culture will continue championing Mills throughout Season 91, highlighting what’s happening at the observatory, what’s appearing in Dundee’s skies and – through our new weekly weather tracker – when conditions might offer the best opportunity to look up.
Mills Observatory reopens on Thursday 1 October 2026.
Here’s to clearer skies for Season 91.
