University of London Observatory

The observatory in March 2009

The University of London Observatory at Mill Hill in London is an astronomical teaching observatory. It is part of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at University College London.

History

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.

Current Status

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.

SN2014J

On 21 January 2014 supernova SN2014J was discovered at the observatory by astronomer Steve Fossey during a session with four undergraduate students.

Gallery

The Radcliffe twin refractor telescope
Telescope enclosures at the observatory
One of two Celestron C14 reflector telescopes at ULO
Fry refractor telescope, the observatory's oldest telescope
Despite its modest diameter, the Radcliffe telescope is very long because it has a long focal length

References

University College London

Academics

Faculties, schools & groupings	Faculty of Arts and Humanities (Slade School of Fine Art) Faculty of Brain Sciences Faculty of the Built Environment (The Bartlett) Faculty of Engineering Sciences School of Energy and Resources School of Management Faculty of Laws Faculty of Life Sciences School of Pharmacy Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Faculty of Medical Sciences Medical School Faculty of Population Health Sciences Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences School of Slavonic and East European Studies Institute of Education Neuroscience

Centres & departments	Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis Centre for Digital Humanities Centre for the History of Medicine Centre for Neuroimaging The Constitution Unit Department of Information Studies Department of Science and Technology Studies Department of Space and Climate Physics EPPI-Centre London Centre for Nanotechnology London Knowledge Lab Slade Centre for Electronic Media in Fine Art Urban Laboratory

Institutes & laboratories	Ear Institute Eastman Dental Institute Institute of Archaeology Institute of Child Health Institute for Global Health Institute of Jewish Studies Institute of Neurology Institute of Ophthalmology Institute of Security and Crime Science Pedestrian Accessibility and Movement Environment Laboratory

Other	Edwards Professor of Egyptian Archaeology and Philology Grote Chair of the Philosophy of Mind and Logic Pender Chair Papers from the Institute of Archaeology Public Archaeology Quain Professor Slade Professor of Fine Art UCL Jurisprudence Review Transcribe Bentham

University

Campus	Bloomsbury Bloomsbury Theatre Church of Christ the King Euston Road Gordon Square Gower Street Gray's Inn Road Halls of residence Holmbury St Mary Main Building Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology Queen Square Somers Town Tavistock Square Tottenham Court Road University of London Observatory Woburn Square

People	Academics List of notable people List of Nobel laureates Jeremy Bentham Michael Arthur (Provost)

Student life	UCL Boat Club The Cheese Grater Law Society University College Opera Pi Magazine Rare FM Royal Free and University College Medical School Boat Club Royal Free, University College and Middlesex Medical Students RFC UCL Union Student Central

Other	Citrus Saturday UCL Business Filming at UCL History Rivalry with King's College London Third-oldest university in England

Affiliates

Medical	Francis Crick Institute Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust Great Ormond Street Hospital Moorfields Eye Hospital Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust The Royal Free Hospital Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital UCLH/UCL Biomedical Research Centre UCL Partners University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Eastman Dental Hospital Hospital for Tropical Diseases National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre University College Hospital University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street Whittington Hospital

Other	Alan Turing Institute Anna Freud Centre Association of Commonwealth Universities European Network for Training Economic Research G5 Golden triangle Institute of Advanced Legal Studies League of European Research Universities Russell Group Thomas Young Centre UCL Academy University College School University of London Yale UCL Collaborative

Category
Commons

Coordinates: 51°36′48″N 0°14′31″W / 51.6134°N 0.2420°W / 51.6134; -0.2420

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