Whispers of cosmic wonders. That’s what the UCL Observatory promises. Right here before us stands a testament to human curiosity. A journey through time and space awaits.
The UCL Observatory didn’t always bear that name. Until 2015 it was known as the University of London Observatory. Its story begins much earlier though in 1925. A generous gift a 24-inch reflecting telescope built by Grubb of Dublin in 1881. This telescope once resided in a private observatory in Ireland. It was donated to the University of London. After much deliberation a location was found. Mill Hill Park offered a lease for 999 years at a minimal cost.
Construction of the Observatory started in 1928 concluding in 1929. The Astronomer Royal Sir Frank Dyson officially opened it. The Observatory wasn’t static. It grew over the years. New telescopes arrived. An 8-inch refractor followed in 1931 a gift from H R Fry. A 6-inch refractor from the estate of Mr John Joynson of Liverpool joined the collection in 1932. A significant addition in 1938 was a 24-inch/18-inch twin refractor from Oxford’s Radcliffe Observatory.
World War II interrupted its progress. The Observatory closed its doors. It reopened in 1945. In 1951 UCL assumed management. Over the next decade the Observatory expanded. New spaces for lectures libraries and laboratories were created. An annexe at 33-35 Daws Lane provided even more room. This housed a lunar research group led by Gilbert Fielder. The Observatory’s research focus eventually shifted. All planetary science research concluded after the annexe sold in 1999.
The Wilson telescope retired in 1974. A new 24-inch Ritchey-Chrétien Cassegrain reflector replaced it. Named after Professor C W Allen a former director. The Joynson telescope was also refurbished. Later new Celestron 14-inch telescopes were added in 2006 and 2009. In 2013 the UCL Observatory affiliated with the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers.
Today the UCL Observatory boasts several telescopes. The Fry Radcliffe Allen telescopes and two Celestron 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. It is still a place of learning. It trains undergraduates in astrophysical techniques. It supports ongoing research. A supernova SN2014J was even discovered here in 2014. This discovery occurred during a session with undergraduate students. A new ASTELCO 80 cm telescope is planned. This will replace the Allen telescope becoming the largest telescope at the facility.
The UCL Observatory isn’t just about gazing at the stars. It’s about exploration. It’s a place where knowledge is discovered and shared. It’s a place where the universe unfolds before you. A truly captivating place indeed.