Cambridge visit - optical and radio double whammy!

[Smithysteve]

Last Saturday I and several other Mansfield and Sutton Obs members had the 'double whammy' privilege of spending 3 hrs at the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory (MRAO) site, and a 2 hr tour of the Optical instruments and facilities at the 'Institute of Astronomy University Cambridge' at Madingley road

 

The Optical site,
The Institute of Astronomy University Cambridge houses several telescopes on its site.
We were given a fascinating detailed tour of the domes and instruments. including:

The Northumberland Telescope donated by the Duke of Northumberland in 1833. This is a 12-inch (300 mm) diameter refractor on an English mount. The lens was an achromatic doublet of 11.6 inches clear aperture and focal length 19ft 6in, made by Cauchoix of Paris.

http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/about/northumberland.telescope

 

The smaller 'Thorrowgood Telescope' was built by T. Cooke & Sons of York & London in 1864, The achromatic doublet object glass has an aperture of 8 inches and a focal length of 114 inches (f/14), and is of excellent quality.

http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/about/thorrowgood.telescope

 

The 36-inch reflector Telescope, built in 1951 and thought to be the largest telescope in the UK.

http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/about/36-inch.telescope

 

The Institute holds public observing evenings on Wednesdays from October to March. 
I hope to attend one evening in October for a proper look at the skies through these and other  fascinating scopes. ?

 

Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory (MRAO) Site;
We were given a first rate tour of the radio scopes and control rooms. I am not a radio astronomer, but the site greatly exceeded my expectations and the tour was very interesting and informative.
It is home to a number of large aperture synthesis radio telescopes, including the One-Mile Telescope, 5-km Ryle Telescope, the e-Merlin receiver and the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mullard_Radio_Astronomy_Observatory

 

It was a fascinating day out!

If you get the opportunity to visit, I recommend you go. ?

[Tweedledee]

Sounds like a fabulous day out Steve. 

 

I will have a good study at your links later.

 

Thanks for sharing 

[Doc]

Wow you must have had a great time Steve.

 

I'll will also study the links tomorrow.

[BAZ]

That looks a good day out. Thanks for sharing.

They might be getting on a bit, but with the quality they were made with back then , I'll bet they are good for a few more years yet.

[+Graham]

Fascinating stuff Stephen.

After reading the first link I will make some inquiries at work as it states we built the main structure for the English mount on the 12 inch here at Ransomes.  

 

[Stephen]

The Observatory Science Center at Herstmonceux near were I live has a 36" Reflecting telescope that got left be hind when the RGO moved to Cambridge it is in dome B  

[philjay]

Interesting stuff Steve, the Thoroughgood is quite a famous scope, would love to see it

[BAZ]

Do you think they would haggle Phil?

[philjay]

19 hours ago, BAZ said:

Do you think they would haggle Phil?

Got too many scopes as it is but theres always an exception