Behind Wynyard Planetarium's star shows, telescopes and school visits is something pleasantly terrestrial: a team of local volunteers.
The Teesside Astronomical Science Centre, known as TASC, is the charity that operates Wynyard Planetarium and Observatory at Thorpe Thewles. Its own information page says the staff at the facility are volunteers, while membership of the organisation is open to anyone.
TASC works with the Cleveland and Darlington Astronomical Society and Durham Astronomical Society to offer events, activities and services for schools, groups and the wider public. The planetarium itself can seat up to 36 people and project the night sky as well as full-dome images and video.
Next door, the Jack Youdale Observatory houses a computer-controlled Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Together the two facilities let visitors move between an indoor explanation of the sky and, when conditions allow, looking at it directly.
The volunteer is part of what keeps the site accessible. Alongside bookable family shows, TASC runs free informal Tuesday evenings during the darker months, where people can ask questions, get help with their own telescope or simply find out what the centre does.
Anyone interested in joining, volunteering or finding out more can visit the TASC page on the Wynyard Planetarium website.