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 also 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 a field top observing point, this holds a number of portable telescopes and is adjacent to the Nine Inch Newtonian – “Bill’s Big Un”
2009 The plans are to finish off a number of part projects including the mounting of the 7″ Roseland Refractor, and the micrometeorite collector.
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.)
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 refractor is a 6″ Skywatcher on a proper tripod excellent for viewing planets and the Moon. We are commissioning a 7″ refractor, a part finished project from another source. There is a range of smaller scopes and binoculars, too many to list, which school children and visitors can use as well.
Observing facility. At the viewing site we have an observing facility with wireless broadband, sidereal clock etc.
Support Scopes. We have satellite observatories housing specialist equipment and a whole range of cameras of a variety of types.
Observatory Site
Court Farm
St Stephen
St Austell PL26 7LE
01726 338082 Observatory
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