Mills Observatory, Dundee


Mills Observatory in Dundee is the only full time public facility of its kind in the country and Lorraine Wakefield paid a visit to discover that stargazing is not just for boffins.

When Dundee manufacturer John Mills left a bequest to the city to build a public observatory in the late 19th century he could not have known that Britain's most famous 20th century astronomer would become an ardent supporter of the facility.

Patrick Moore has taken a keen interest in the continuing work of the observatory in the city's Balgay Park and he will visit Dundee later this month to give a public lecture to celebrate 65 years of the Mills.

It was nearly 50 years after Mills' death that the sandstone observatory with a seven metre papier-mâché dome was completed on a hilltop in the park, handed over to the city council and opened to the public on 28 October 1935.

Since then it has provided a window to the stars and although it is open all year round it is during the dark winter nights that the Mills really comes into its own.

Each weeknight throughout the winter the observatory is open and the public can pop in to view the far-flung reaches of the universe through an impressive Victorian refracting telescope with a ten-inch lens.

According to heritage programme officer Jeff Lashley, who runs the observatory, to many people the stars and the planets seem distant and somehow false but a visit to the Mills can help make them real.

"Often people think that the planets are pictures stuck in the system somewhere and they are not actually real, just a sticker stuck on the lens or something," he said.

But on a fine clear night visitors to the Mills are sure to see close ups of different planets and the crater strewn surface of the moon to help dispel that myth.

"The sky is particularly well suited at the moment for observing Saturn and Jupiter. Jupiter is the largest planet so you tend to get a lot of detail and Saturn is the second largest and has nice rings which people like to see," continued Jeff.

"The moon is also very impressive and people really do enjoy seeing that. When you are looking at the moon through a telescope it can give you a good three-dimensional impression of it, unlike seeing it on a television."

Another popular feature at the Mills Observatory are the Planetarium Nights which are held monthly throughout the winter and give visitors the opportunity to learn more about the stars and planets.

Each show has a different theme like New Worlds, the Milky Way Galaxy, Comets and Meteors and the Solar Influence and visitors can see around a thousand stars projected onto a mini dome.

The stars shown in the planetarium are the same as can be seen in the night sky outside to enable people go off and do some star spotting of their own on the way home.

Jeff is also keen to give advice to amateur astronomers or anyone interested in learning more about the stars as he says expert astronomy tips are often difficult to come by.

"We are here to offer advice to people as well and I am particularly keen to offer advice to telescope buyers on what is a good buy," said Jeff.

"Unfortunately there are a lot of telescopes on offer, particularly in the High Street, that are not worth buying and a little bit of advice means you won't necessarily have to pay more but you will get something that is better value for money.

"For example you could not really get a good telescope for £100 but you could get good binoculars, which are used widely in astronomy, and you can use them for other things as well."

Although the telescope predates the observatory building it is not the original one as that telescope was especially built new for the opening by now defunct Newcastle company Grubb Parsons.

The original telescope was replaced in 1950 with a new prototype telescope, which proved to be unsuitable for the Mills, and two years later it was swopped for the present telescope.

However the present telescope is not without a story itself as it was the first telescope used to draw the cloud bands on Uranus. Visitors can find out all about the telescopes and other features of space and space exploration with a selection of static exhibits which are also housed in the observatory. skies.

Patrick Moore will deliver his "Back to the Future" lecture to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Mills Observatory at the University of Abertay Dundee on 28 October 2000 at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale at the observatory and the Central Booking Office, City Square, priced £5 for adults and £3 for concessions.

It is best to visit the observatory on a clear night and if travelling some distance it is advisable to phone in advance (01382 435846) to check local weather conditions and telescope opening times which can vary depending on planetarium shows.

Planetarium shows are held on the last Friday of the month, except December, throughout the winter and admission costs £1 for adults and 50pence for children. Admission to the observatory is free at all other times.

More information can be found on the website at www.dundeecity.gov.uk/mills

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