University of London Observatory
Encyclopedia
The University of London Observatory at Mill Hill
in London
is an astronomical teaching observatory, part of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at University College London
.
The Observatory was opened on 8 October 1929 by the then Astronomer Royal
Frank Watson Dyson
, initially to house the 24-inch reflector from Dr W.E. Wilson's observatory at Daramona, Ireland, which was donated to the University of London
after his death.
An 8-inch refractor was installed in 1931 following its donation to the University by H.R. Fry of Barnett the previous year. In July 1938, the Observatory was further expanded to accommodate the 24-inch/18-inch twin refractor that had been removed from the Radcliffe Observatory at Oxford in 1934.
In 1951, UCL
took over management of the Observatory from the University of London
, and over the next ten years added library, lecture, and laboratory space.
The Wilson telescope was retired in 1974 (to the Merseyside Museums), and was replaced the following year with a new 24-inch Ritchey-Chrétien Cassegrain reflector
which was named after the former director of the Observatory, Professor C.W. Allen.
In addition to the Fry, Radcliffe, and Wilson telescopes, two Celestron 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes are housed in permanent domes, and there are several smaller free-standing telescopes.
The observatory's primary purpose is to provide UCL undergraduates with training in practical astrophysical techniques and data-handling.
There is also a research programme, involving students in observing transits of extrasolar planets.
Mill Hill
Mill Hill is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. It is a suburb situated 9 miles north west of Charing Cross. Mill Hill was in the historic county of Middlesex until it was absorbed by London...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
is an astronomical teaching observatory, part of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
The Observatory was opened on 8 October 1929 by the then Astronomer Royal
Astronomer Royal
Astronomer Royal is a senior post in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. There are two officers, the senior being the Astronomer Royal dating from 22 June 1675; the second is the Astronomer Royal for Scotland dating from 1834....
Frank Watson Dyson
Frank Watson Dyson
Sir Frank Watson Dyson, KBE, FRS was an English astronomer and Astronomer Royal who is remembered today largely for introducing time signals from Greenwich, England, and for the role he played in testing Einstein's theory of general relativity.- Biography :Dyson was born in Measham, near...
, initially to house the 24-inch reflector from Dr W.E. Wilson's observatory at Daramona, Ireland, which was donated to the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
after his death.
An 8-inch refractor was installed in 1931 following its donation to the University by H.R. Fry of Barnett the previous year. In July 1938, the Observatory was further expanded to accommodate the 24-inch/18-inch twin refractor that had been removed from the Radcliffe Observatory at Oxford in 1934.
In 1951, UCL
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
took over management of the Observatory from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, and over the next ten years added library, lecture, and laboratory space.
The Wilson telescope was retired in 1974 (to the Merseyside Museums), and was replaced the following year with a new 24-inch Ritchey-Chrétien Cassegrain reflector
Ritchey-Chrétien telescope
A Ritchey–Chrétien telescope is a specialized Cassegrain telescope designed to eliminate coma, thus providing a large field of view compared to a more conventional configuration. An RCT has a hyperbolic primary and a hyperbolic secondary mirror. It was invented in the early 1910s by American...
which was named after the former director of the Observatory, Professor C.W. Allen.
In addition to the Fry, Radcliffe, and Wilson telescopes, two Celestron 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes are housed in permanent domes, and there are several smaller free-standing telescopes.
The observatory's primary purpose is to provide UCL undergraduates with training in practical astrophysical techniques and data-handling.
There is also a research programme, involving students in observing transits of extrasolar planets.