We believe that the Stars Belong to Everyone, that everyone deserves an accessible place to view the stars. We believe that everyone should be inspired by views of our Milky Way without hinderance of city light.

Stargaze Nova Scotia

Nighttime view of a star-filled sky with the Milky Way galaxy visible, surrounded by trees and the Abbey Ridge Observatory in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Night sky filled with stars, a person standing on a rock with a tripod, a tree on the left, bottom right corner has the text 'STARGAZE NOVA SCOTIA'.

Facing south with the newly resurrected Abbey Ridge Observatory.

Facing south, where seasonal constellations rise the highest.

Night sky filled with numerous stars and a visible planet or bright star near the horizon, with a mountain and forest silhouettes in the foreground.

Venus (bright object) and Jupiter (below Venus, near the tree) just after sunset.

Phase 1: 2023-2024

  • Parking lot and lane

  • Small structure for storing gear

  • Washroom facilities

  • Power for charging lights and telescopes

  • Reconstruction of the Abbey Ridge Observatory

Dark Sky Chart For Stargaze Nova Scotia / Abbey Ridge Observatory: https://www.cleardarksky.com/c/AbbyRgOb2NSkey.html?1

Potential 2024-2025 offerings:

  • Public Stargazing Events

  • Private Corporate Events

  • Site Rental

  • Private Stargazing

Author and astronomer John Read standing on a rocky hilltop with his wife, overlooking a forested landscape with a lake, distant hills, and a house on the right, under a clear blue sky.

  • Visit our “Contact” page to discuss booking options.

  • Follow us on Facebook for news and public events: facebook.com/StargazeNovaScotia

  • “Walk to Solar System” 1.5-kilometer hiking trail around property

Summer 2024 Update: Resurrection of the Abbey Ridge Observatory (YouTube series coming soon)

Aerial view of a winding river through a green forest with a small red and white building in the foreground and houses along the riverbank, under a colorful sunset sky.
Night sky filled with stars over a forest, with the Abbey Ridge Observatory building in the foreground.
A white observatory dome is set on a red and white structure in a lush, green forested area on a clear, sunny day. A yellow excavator is nearby, and there are trees and a person standing among them, with the sky filled with scattered clouds.
A man wearing glasses, a black t-shirt with the word 'turbulence' printed multiple times, and a black cap, standing inside a large, partially assembled curved structure outdoors on a gravel surface with greenery in the background.
A man with sunglasses installing a window in the exterior wall of a white building with red trim, outdoors surrounded by a green landscape and blue sky.
Small blue wooden shed with a white door, located outdoors in a forested area with trees and bushes.

November 2023 Update

  • What have an outhouse!

  • 5x5 ft with camping toilet.

  • Doubling as temporary telescope storage.

  • Practice for future builds.

  • Continuing to plan observatories

A woman standing outside a tiny blue and wooden shed with an open door, smiling. Inside, three children in warm clothing are looking through a telescope, with one child holding a mug.

March 2023 Update

May 2023 Update (Lanes and Driveways)

From our facebook page, this video shows our new driveway, parking lot, and lane.

A rocky hillside with a large boulder, sparse trees, and an overcast sky with clouds.

  • 26 Acres of land

  • Over 900ft of frontage on Big Lake

  • 1000ft of frontage on Prospect Rd.

  • 30 minutes from Halifax

  • 10 minutes from Peggy’s Cove

A scenic landscape with tall evergreen trees in the foreground, a river or lake, and a forested hillside in the background under a cloudy sky.

August 2023 update

Recently, I’ve been getting a lot of requests for access to the property. For insurance reasons, I have a few rules for those requesting access. First, you must have permission to go on the property. Second, permission will only be granted if you go with me, or someone I know personally. No going alone! Third, I’ll give priority to those who are members of the “Seasoned Astronomer” tier on LearnToStargaze’s Patreon, or the “Priority Remote Observer” tier YouTube Membership. This will help cover the costs of operating the property.

Join our Patreon
Join our Patreon
Join our YouTube Membership
Join our YouTube Membership

Astrophotography from Stargaze Nova Scotia

A star-filled night sky with the Milky Way galaxy visible. There is a logo in the bottom left corner that says 'Startaze Nova Scotia' in white and yellow text.

Rosette Nebula with 6 minutes of exposure

A star-filled night sky with numerous bright stars and distant nebulae. The logo at the bottom left reads 'StarCaze Nova Scotia'.

M38 with 12 minutes of exposure

A starry sky image with numerous stars and faint nebulae, overlaid with the text 'Star Gazed Nova Scotia' in the lower left corner.

Heart and Soul with 12 minutes of exposure

Support

Stargaze Nova Scotia is still in need of funding. Connect with us via the Contact page to learn how you can help!

Contact
Contact

Stargaze Nova Scotia is a property dedicated to stargazing and space-themed activities. Currently this land is under development. Permission to access the property must be granted in advance by Stargaze Nova Scotia.

By entering this property, you acknowledge that the land contains hazards such as large rocks, dense brush, ticks, wild animals, a lake (called Big Lake), a pond, cliffs, large rocks, and a swamp. Visitors are not permitted to enter the swamp, pond, or lake. Please use caution when on the land and stay on the marked trails. If it is night time, do not leave the areas illuminated by red lights.

Visitors are prohibited from consuming alcohol or drugs on the property and from starting any fires. Parking is only allowed in designated locations, and visitors must not park on Prospect Rd. Additional parking can be found along McGraths Cove Rd.

By using this property, visitors acknowledge that they are doing so at their own risk. Stargaze Nova Scotia will not be held liable for any personal injury, loss, or damage to property that occurs on the premises.

By entering the property, you agree to comply with all posted signs, rules, and guidelines. Failure to do so may result in immediate expulsion from the property.

Thank you for choosing Stargaze Nova Scotia, and we hope you enjoy your stargazing experience!