(Originally published in TOURISM)
The planets and star systems of the tourism industry are realigning themselves in light of current pressures in the tourism universe, and it seems niche markets – once the neglected black holes of the industry – are increasingly assuming supernova status. Jack and Alice Newton’s Observatory B&B is perhaps the most vivid expression of a new phenomenon industry watchers say will only amplify with time.
Jack is a retired Marks & Spencer department store manager who has always nurtured a passion for astronomy. His observations are well documented among his network of peers. Alice and he had a dream of one day welcoming guests from around the world, with whom they could share their knowledge of the skies. “This is something we obviously love to do,” says Alice. “We find parents sometimes will look for holidays that will involve a science angle in which their children can participate, providing an opportunity for them to learn as a family.”
The Newtons looked for a place in Canada with a minimal amount of light pollution and cloudless skies. They built on Anarchist Mountain in Osoyoos, BC, and created what could well be the only B&B destination of its kind. Picture a grand two‑storey house on a hillside 1,500 feet above the valley floor, fully‑equipped with a 16‑inch computer‑controlled telescope housed in a roof‑top observatory. Even in daytime, Jack can view about 600 stars with his telescope.
“A stay with us always includes an opportunity to scan the skies. Our guests even have a chance to learn how to photograph their discoveries by registering for the optional imaging tutorial we offer, and they can take what they see through the telescope back home with them on a CD‑ROM; things like nebulae, galaxies and planets. We also offer morning observations of the sun through H‑alpha filters.”
Jack’s own collection of photography is an eloquent validation of this offering’s quality. Visitors to the B&B’s website (www.jacknewton.com) can sample his vibrant images. On cloudy evenings, Jack logs into the controls of one of a number of observatories around the world that allow guest astronomers to make use of their facilities. “There is always a clear sky somewhere," he quips. A giant home theatre screen at the B&B, complete with the latest audio and viewing technology, then becomes the most luxurious of viewfinders.
This is the perfect example of the kind of tourism experience that differentiates itself from anything else on the market. Jack’s reputation in the field of astronomy precedes him and makes for an irresistible drawing card in some circles. He has pioneered the field of amateur CCD (charged couple device) photography, especially the development of high resolution tri‑color imaging. Jack’s photographs are well‑known to readers of Astronomy, Sky & Telescope, and Sky News magazines. He is also a frequent contributor to other magazines, calendars and newspapers around the globe; his work has been featured in such publications as Newsweek, the Canadian Geographic Magazine, Photo Life, and The Audubon Society's Field Guide to the Night Sky. As author or co‑author of a number of books on astronomy, his writings and images enjoy an international following.
Jack is a popular lecturer who has been invited to present his stunning images at star parties all over Canada and the US. In 1995 he traveled to southern England and Wales, where he spoke to more than 1,000 British Astronomical Society members during eleven lectures and workshops on his marathon 21‑day tour. His guiding experience includes leading solar eclipse expeditions throughout the world to such distant locales as Russia, Indonesia and Mexico. He headed a contingent of 300 enthusiasts to Peru to view Halley’s Comet.
Jack and Alice were honoured to have Asteroid 30840 named Jackalice by the IAU (International Astronomical Union). To date, Jack has received credit on 17 supernovae discoveries. No wonder people are willing to converge on the Observatory B&B, hoping perhaps to be with Jack and Alice when the next supernova comes around.
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