Greenwich observatory: Astronomers to start studying the sky again
instrument.
It comprises three smaller refractors around a top-end, 14-inch (35.5cm) aperture Schmidt-cassegrain telescope.
Users will be able to study the Sun and the planets in our solar system, but also look beyond to more distant stars and planetary nebulae (great clouds of gas and dust).
For the system to be used to look at the Sun is particularly apt in the context of Annie Maunder.
Who was Annie Maunder?
One of the ‘forgotten giants’ of British astronomy, she got a job at Greenwich in 1891 working as a ‘lady computer’, doing supporting calculations for male scientists. But she became an adept observer in her own right, and with her husband, Walter, broke new ground in our understanding of how the Sun goes through its cycles of activity.
Given the times, all the credit went to Walter. That has changed in recent years with reappraisals finally — and properly — recognizing her enormous contributions.
Dr. Louise Devoy, the curator of ROG, said, “She remained on staff here in Greenwich until 1895 when she had to resign because, as per civil service rules back then, she couldn’t be married.
“But she remained very active, particularly with the British Astronomical Association, and indeed she came back to Greenwich in WWI as a volunteer because of the shortage of staff when all the men joined up.
“The new telescope set-up will have a huge capability to image the Sun, with a special hydrogen alpha filter so you can really see activity such as flares (big outbursts).”
The new installation comes thanks to a successful appeal for funds.
ROG museum members, private donors and the public gave £150,000 towards the project.
The money has finally enabled proper restoration work to be completed on the Altazimuth Pavilion, which was in urgent need of repair.
Owens said, “It’s a beautiful Victorian building that suffered major bomb damage. Half the building was obliterated during WWII.
“It was reconstructed by the time the ROG became a museum, but it was never perfect and over time, brick work crumbled and damp had crept in.
“When we decided on the restoration, we could have included just museum space but we saw a wonderful opportunity to make it a multi-purpose, 21st-century observatory.”