First Light…

🌌 Project First Light Begins

By Ben Wilkes, Astronomer & Educator

They say every great journey starts with a single step. Ours starts with a telescope—and a sky full of stars.

Welcome to Project First Light.

As an astronomer and educator, I’ve spent the last 15 years helping young people look up, ask questions, and find their place in the universe. But I’ve always felt we could do more—bring more of the cosmos into the classroom, and give every student, no matter their background, the tools to explore it for themselves.

That’s what Project First Light is all about.

Working with the Tudor Grange Academy Trust and a pilot group of brilliant Birmingham schools, we’re putting powerful, smart telescopes—specifically the Seestar S30—into the hands of students. These are not the dusty, difficult-to-use scopes many of us remember from school. They’re app-controlled, AI-enhanced, and capable of capturing deep-sky images with stunning clarity. In short: they’re made for today’s learners.

But Project First Light isn’t just about technology—it’s about wonder. It’s about showing pupils that the universe isn’t something to read about in a textbook; it’s something they can observe, photograph, and explore. It's about building science capital in schools and turning curiosity into confidence.

Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing stories, images, and moments from the classroom—from the first time a student sees the rings of Saturn, to the shared excitement of families joining in an evening stargazing session. We’ll also be opening up opportunities for more schools to get involved as we grow.

So whether you’re a teacher, a student, or simply someone who still remembers the thrill of seeing the Moon through a telescope—thank you for being here. We’re just getting started, and we can’t wait to take you with us.

Clear skies,
Ben Wilkes