About The Observatory
Our History
The observatory was started by Clive Purchase in 1998 to prepare for
the Cornish eclipse in 99. This was very successful apart from the
cloud.
Following the eclipse, Clive moved the bulk of the equipment to form
the Callington Space Centre and Brian Sheen relocated the observatory to its
Court Farm.
For the first year or two we operated mostly during the summer
holidays and it soon became apparent that a large number of the visitors
appreciated the opportunity to learn about the night sky and to look
through the telescopes.
In 2005 we replaced the outer walls of the Activity Room and
decorated the inside. We also supported Eurojam at
Chelmsford.
2006 we got Broadband channeled in and with a digital projector
expanded the teaching to youth groups. We set up the Solar
Observatory.
2007 saw a concentration on the World Scout Jamboree 40,000
teenagers also at Chelmsford, we organised a linkup with the International
Space Station and helped with the launch of over 1000 model rockets.
2008 We spent trying to sort out a four metre Radio
Telescope assembled and preparing for the Expedition to the River Niger. A
main aim of the expedition was to teach astronomy in some of the poorest
countries in the world. We also established the Outreach
Facility.
2009 We have mounted the 7" Roseland Refractor, and
are working on the micrometeorite collector. The weather station is
now up and running with the wireless relay station located in the Camp
Office for benefit of our visitors.
2010 The plan is to continue our paddle of the
River Niger by traveling from Bamako to Timbuktu.
The equipment;-
The solar observatory.
This consists of a Bench-mounted 10" Newtonian reflector projecting
on to a screen for direct viewing or to a camera for imaging. The scope is
contained in a light tight module which allows access for small numbers of
students. The sunlight is fed into the module by a 20" heliostat -
the largest in the country. This large mirror is equatorially mounted and
so can track to keep the sunlight pointing directly at the main mirror of
the telescope. (The commissioning of this instrument heralded the longest
period without sun spots since Maunder.)
Outreach Facility.
We
have an observing facility with wireless broadband, sidereal clock ,
Celestron Sky Scout to support the fixed telescopes below.
Weather
Station. Based on a Maplin
"Professional Weather Station" it measures rainfall, wind speed,
temperature as well as a number of derived parameters.
The
telescopes. The biggest
reflector on site is Bill's Big Un a 9" reflector with a fixed pier
in a stock proof fence - this is to keep the sheep out not the visitors
in. Children love climbing the ladder to look at the planets or Moon! The
workhorse Scope is an 8" Orion Pulsar which can be located at various
sites around the Observatory. The biggest portable refractor is a 6"
Skywatcher on a proper tripod excellent for viewing planets and the Moon.
We have just commissioned a 7" refractor, a part finished project from
another source. There is a range of smaller scopes, which school children and visitors can use as well.
The Binoculars;-
Starting with the normal 10 X 50 pair on a small tripod we have a
Celestron 15 X 70 binocular on a large tripod, excellent optics, and a
Revelation 25 X 100 binocular on a giant tripod.
Activity
Room. Has Broadband and a Digital Projector as
well as a large range of science equipment. Turned into TV Studio for ITV with Louise
Midgley & with the BBC - David Brain.
Support
Scopes. We have satellite
observatories housing specialist equipment and a whole range of cameras of
a variety of types.
The Radio Telescope being re-commissioned also showing Paul with 4" Tak and a Radio
Cornwall Reporter.
Image by Robb Sidston of our Imaging team
Research Library; Contains
about 300 specialist texts ranging in date from 18th Cent to
prepublication. Plus a large number of periodicals.
Web Site; Is
updated almost every day often using images by the Observatory team.
|
