Mills Observatory
Posted by: 
snaik
N 56° 27.888 W 003° 00.759
30V E 499220 N 6257812
Britain’s only full-time public observatory, and entry is FREE
Waymark Code: WM996
Location: Northern Scotland, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 03/21/2006
Views: 50
Britain's only full-time public observatory. Gifted to the people of Dundee in 1935, with a bequest from John Mills, a linen and twine manufacturer and keen amateur scientist.
Mills Observatory was designed by the City Architect, Mr McLellan Brown in collaboration with Professor Ralph Sampson the Astronomer Royal for Scotland. Located on Balgay Hill within Balgay Park, Dundee, and as well as planetary observations it provides panoramic views over the Firth of Tay to Fife.
It is the only full-time public observatory in Britain and offers short planetarium shows and demonstrations on how to safely observe the sun.
The observatory’s main telescope is a Victorian 10" Cooke refractor. It was made in York in 1871 by Thomas Cooke and the optical components are of the highest quality. The telescope is actually older than the building
Observatory Purpose: Private
Optical / Infrared Telescopes?: No
Radio Telescopes?: No
Solar Telescopes?: No
Open to the Public?: Yes
Is this a Club Observatory?: No
Public Viewing Allowed?: Yes
Active Observatory?: Active
Number of Telescopes or Antennas: 1
Site URL: [Web Link]
Year Dedicated or Opened: 1935
Altitude (meters): 145
|
Visit Instructions:Note the time of day of your visit, and your own photo of your favorite part of the observatory. This might be the view from the observatory, picture of your favorite building or favorite exhibit. (Be mindful of flash photography rules!)
If you participated in an observing session, let everyone know what you saw!