Observe the Observatory Traditional Geocache
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(regular)
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Observe the Observatory
The Norman Lockyer Observatory and Planetarium is situated near a south facing cliff one mile east of the coastal town of Sidmouth. The observatory provides modern telescopes with computer enhanced imaging, as well as maintaining some of the nation's most historic instruments, and enjoys a relatively dark night sky with a southerly aspect across the sea. There are four domes, the Maclean, the Kensington, the Mond and the Victoria, the most famous one is the Mond, which houses the 6¼-inch Lockyer telescope which was used to help discover helium.
The observatory is particularly well situated for spectral analysis in astronomy, which requires a clear sky over the whole optical spectrum, because it enjoys a relatively "clean" sky to the east and south across the sea. The atmosphere is usually free of air pollution and light pollution and, as the sea has a uniform temperature, the air is also free of rising currents which can distort optical images.
The facility, which also operates an amateur radio station call signs (G0AXC) and (GB2NLO) [2] and weather satellite station, was operated by the University of Exeter between 1946 and 1987 and transferred to the East Devon District Council in 1988. A convention center for lectures and academic conferences was added in 2005. It cooperates with undergraduate courses of the University of Exeter, the University of Plymouth and the Open Universities, and is available to any university for development projects.
Norman Lockyer
Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer,[3] the founding editor of the scientific journal Nature in 1869, built the observatory in 1912 as a private venture, following the closure of the South Kensington Observatory, where he had been a principal researcher of solar activity and meteorology.
The Observatory's historic instruments are associated with Lockyer's pioneering work on star temperature which led to theories of stellar evolution and the foundation of astrophysics.
From Wikapedia
The observatory is also open to the public. Opening times available from the local tourist office and web sites.
The cache has been set up to encourge people to discover a foot path network in Sidmouth away from the normal sea front attractions. Its placed on Salcombe Hill in site of the Norman Lockyer Obseratory, see above. The difficulty rating is based on the walk below. It is possible to park quite nearby. If this option is taken the rating reduces to 1.5.
In the cache is a FTF prize of £1.00. A unusal TB and a few goodies plus a pen and log book.
A recommended half day walk from Sidmouth sea front,which covers the cache site, is as follows:
Head north from the life boat station past the swimming pool. Over the ford bridge to The Byes park. Keep going north along the river Sid keeping the river always on your left. When you come to the 3rd bridge do not cross but keep walking until you get to Sid Road. Turn left here and walk along the road for about 100/200 metres to Milltown Lane. Turn right. Head up the hill to the top. Turn left. The path bears around to the right. The observatory can been seen on your right. The cache site is near here. Keep ahead to the road. Cross and find the path ahead. Walk south to the coast path. Turn right and head back to Sidmouth on the coastal path. (You may find other caches on route).
Please rehide well after you have found it. Thanks
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ng onfr bs zhygv gehaxrq gerr