THE annual ball of a local charity has attracted support from Kielder Observatory, which will give guests the opportunity to examine the night sky from a new perspective.

The Calvert Ball will be held at the Hilton NewcastleGateshead by the Calvert Trust Kielder, a charity which enables disabled people to achieve their potential through outdoor adventure.

At the ball, a team of experts from Kielder Observatory will be manning a mobile planetarium cinema dome.

This will give guests the chance to observe a simulation of the night sky above Gateshead without light pollution.

Operations manager at Kielder Observatory John Homes is confident people will be amazed when they compare the light-polluted sky to the ‘clean’ night sky.

He said: “We believe in making astronomy accessible to everyone, so the chance to take the mobile planetarium to a great event like the Calvert Ball is a fantastic opportunity for us.”

CEO of the Calvert Trust Kielder, Peter Cockerill, said: “The Calvert Ball is a very important fund-raiser for us.

“In the last seven years, it has raised more than £220,000, which has allowed us to create some truly life-changing experiences for thousands of disabled people, their families and friends.”

The ball takes place on Saturday, October 15. Tickets can be booked at www.calvert-trust.org.uk/ or on (01434) 250232.