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Mills Observatory

Mills Observatory

Location

Balgay Hill, Dundee, Scotland

Coordinates

56°27′53.93″N 3°00′45.27″W / 56.4649806°N 3.0125750°W

Established

1935

Website
Official Mills Observatory Website: http://www.leisureandculturedundee.com/mills/

Telescopes
Telescope 1	300 mm Schmidt-Cassegrain
Telescope 2	0.25m (10inch) Cooke Refractor, focal length of 3.75 m
Telescope 3	250 mm refracting telescopes
Telescope 4	Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Telescope
New Addition	Webcam attached telescopes
New 2013 Telescope	400mm (16inch) Dobsonian Reflector

The Mills Observatory is a special place in Dundee, Scotland. It was the very first building in the UK made just for the public to look at the stars! It opened in 1935. The observatory looks classic, built with sandstone. It has a unique 7-meter dome. Inside, you'll find an old Victorian telescope, a small planetarium, and cool exhibits. The dome itself is quite rare. It's one of only two in the UK made from papier-mâché that are still around.

History of the Mills Observatory

How the Observatory Began

The story of Mills Observatory starts with John Mills. He was a businessman in Dundee who loved astronomy. He was inspired by Reverend Thomas Dick. Dick believed that studying astronomy helped people appreciate God. He also thought every city should have public parks, libraries, and observatories.

John Mills, who the observatory is named after

John Mills built his own private observatory. It was on Dundee Law. He had a main telescope and a room to record his observations. This showed he was a serious astronomer. One of his old telescopes is now on display. You can see it at the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh.

When John Mills passed away, he left money for a public observatory. The city council wasn't sure what to do. They first offered the money to the University College. But the college decided not to take on the project. So, a special trust was set up. Plans were made to build the observatory on Dundee Law.

However, the First World War started in 1914. This put the project on hold. The chosen spot was used for a war memorial instead. No progress was made for many years.

Choosing the Best Location

In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, the idea came up again. Building the observatory would create much-needed jobs. Professor Sampson, the top astronomer for Scotland, was asked for advice. He looked at several places. He strongly suggested Balgay Hill.

Balgay Hill was perfect for looking at the stars. It was also easy for people to visit. Even today, it's a great spot. Trees protect it from city lights. This helps keep the air clear for viewing. About 40% of nights are clear enough to observe.

Building and Opening the Observatory

Professor Sampson worked with James MacLellan Brown. He was the City Architect. They designed a modern building. It was made from sandstone blocks. The Observatory officially opened on October 28, 1935. Professor Sampson himself opened it.

The first person in charge was J. Grant Bruce. He was a part-time curator. A full-time caretaker was also hired. The observatory had set hours for the public. Special times were arranged for groups. In winter, evenings were open to the public. Other evenings were for private groups. During the day, visitors could enjoy the views from the balcony. They used special telescopes for looking at the scenery.

The main telescope inside the dome was an 18-inch (45 cm) Newtonian reflector. It was powered by electricity. The dome itself was made of papier-mâché on a steel frame. It was operated by hand. The 18-inch telescope was sometimes affected by street lights.

One challenge was that Balgay Park closed at dusk. Special arrangements were needed for people to visit at night. Children had to be with an adult. During the Second World War, the observatory closed. Staff were moved to help with the war effort.

After the war, the 18-inch telescope was changed. Professor E. Finlay Freundlich from St. Andrews University wanted to test a new telescope design. They needed a place to mount their 19-inch (48 cm) pilot model. The Mills Observatory's telescope mounting was perfect. The city council agreed to let them use it. They were told it would be a better telescope for public viewing.

The 1940s: Changes and New Telescopes

For three years, the telescope room was closed. The new telescope was finished in 1950. It was described as "the first of its kind in the world." But it was only for taking photos. This was not ideal for public viewing.

As Dundee grew, city lights made stellar photography harder. In 1951, it was suggested that the pilot telescope move to St. Andrews. In exchange, Mills Observatory would get a 10-inch (25 cm) Cooke refracting telescope. This telescope was used for student training.

$The 10-inch Cooke Refractormills$

The 10-inch (250 mm) Cooke refractor telescope

At first, the city council refused. People were upset. But Professor W.H.M. Greaves, the new Astronomer Royal for Scotland, advised the move. He said it would benefit science. The exchange happened. The 10-inch refractor was a much better telescope for public viewing. It was built in 1871. It was once owned by Walter Goodacre, a famous amateur astronomer. This telescope is excellent for seeing details on the Moon and planets.

The 1950s: New Curator and Public Interest

After the Cooke telescope was installed, Curator Bruce passed away. In 1952, Dr. Jaroslav Císař became the new Curator. He was a research astronomer from St. Andrews.

Dr. Císař made astronomy popular. He taught classes and encouraged young amateur astronomers. He allowed the Dundee Astronomical Society (DAS) to use the observatory's lecture room. Because Dr. Císař had commitments at St. Andrews, he had an assistant, Harry Ford. When Dr. Císař retired, he suggested Harry Ford take over.

1967–1977: The Harry Ford Years

Harry Ford was the first full-time curator at Mills Observatory

Harry Ford became the first full-time Curator in 1972. This meant the observatory could be open all the time. The DAS became very involved. Ford created programs to teach the public. He used visual aids and experiments. He also did great public relations work. The observatory became famous among amateur astronomers worldwide. Many exhibitions and "Open Days" were held.

Ford also showed the observatory's work in London. This made many people visit Dundee. Dr. Patrick Moore, a famous TV and radio personality, praised the observatory. He said it was "quite unique." He visited many times.

The years from 1971 to 1977 were exciting. There was a huge interest in space. This was because of the space missions by the USSR and United States. These missions led to the Apollo missions to the Moon.

In July 1969, during the Apollo 11 Moon landing, the observatory had its biggest crowd ever. A color TV was set up. People watched the mission. There were also talks, slide shows, and an exhibition.

Another exciting event was an expedition in 1973. Ford and others went to observe a total solar eclipse off the coast of Mauretania. Patrick Moore covered it for the BBC. The photos from this trip are important to the observatory's history.

In 1971, Scottish astronomy groups met at the observatory. In 1975, a big meeting of the British Astronomical Association was held. Patrick Moore gave a public lecture about Mars. So many people came that the hall was completely full.

The Moon section of the British Astronomical Association met at Mills Observatory often. In 1972, Patrick Moore gave the observatory Walter Goodacre's original notes. These were his observations of the Moon made with the 10-inch refractor. Harry Ford later became the director of this section.

During this time, many more visitors came. School classes and youth groups used the facilities. Ford added many models to the displays. He also built a 12-seat planetarium. This "artificial sky" was a huge hit, especially with younger visitors. It's still used today for small groups.

Dick Kennedy was the caretaker for 20 years. He retired in 1973. Jim Richardson took over but retired the next year.

1980s and 1990s: New Leadership and Upgrades

Thomas Flood became the Assistant Curator. In 1982, Harry Ford resigned. Thomas Flood served as Curator for a while. Later that year, Dr. Fiona Vincent became the new City Astronomer. She was a research astronomer from St. Andrews. Thomas Flood retired, and Gary Hannan became the Astronomer's Assistant in 1983.

Dr. Patrick Moore and Fiona Vincent at the observatory

The 1982–1983 season was special. Malcolm Longair, a famous astronomer from Dundee, gave a lecture. Patrick Moore also visited again. He came for a successful meeting of Scottish astronomy groups.

The next year, big changes happened. The observatory got central heating. The balcony was redone. The whole building was redecorated. The lecture room was upgraded to an audio-visual theater. These improvements were made possible by a grant. Even with all the work, the observatory stayed open. It welcomed a record number of visitors.

On June 21, 1984, Dr. Patrick Moore officially opened the new facilities. He said that Mills Observatory would continue to be important for amateur astronomy in Britain. He hoped it would inspire people to become astronomers.

In 1990, astronomer Robert H. McNaught discovered two minor planets. He named them 6906 Johnmills and 6907 Harry Ford. This was to honor John Mills and Harry Ford.

Dr. Fiona Vincent left in 1989. Brian Kelly took over until 1999. Then Jeff Lashley was in charge until 2001.

The 21st Century at Mills Observatory

Dr. Bill Samson became the Heritage Officer in 2002. He retired in 2007. In 2003, the observatory was greatly improved. It received money from the Heritage Lottery Fund. They added disabled access and other facilities. HRH the Princess Royal reopened it in February 2004.

A 350-meter Planet Trail was opened in June 2004. It's a model of the Solar System. It has standing stones with plaques for the planets. It starts with the ‘Sun’ on Balgay Hill. It ends at the Mills Observatory, which represents ‘Pluto’. The area around the trail was also made nicer.

In 2005, David Scott, an Apollo 15 astronaut, visited the observatory.

In February 2024, there were plans to close the observatory. This was due to budget cuts by Dundee City Council. But many people protested. The plans were overturned later that month. Funding was given to keep the observatory open.

What You Can See and Do

Telescopes at Mills Observatory

The main telescope is a 400mm (16-inch) Dobsonian reflector. It was added in 2013. The observatory also has a 0.25m (10-inch) Cooke refractor. This Victorian telescope was made in 1871. Its parts are very high quality. It's even older than the building itself! The dome also holds a 0.3m (12-inch) Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. This one was bought in 2006.

When Mills Observatory first opened in 1935, it had an 18-inch (450mm) reflecting telescope. This was built by Grubb Parsons. The dome, also by Grubb Parsons, is made of papier-mâché and steel. Refracting telescopes are great for looking at planets. On clear winter evenings, you can use the main telescope to see the night sky.

The Planet Trail

On Balgay Hill, there's an outdoor planet trail. It's a scaled-down model of our Solar System. It's fun and educational! The trail has standing stones and plaques. They represent the planets. You start at the ‘Sun’ on the eastern side of the hill. As you walk west towards the observatory, you'll see stones for Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Pluto is represented by the pier inside the observatory. This is where the main telescope stands.

The Planetarium Show

The planetarium uses a special projector. It shows the night sky on a domed ceiling in a dark room. You can see about 1000 stars. It also shows the planets you can see with your eyes. You can even see the Milky Way! Other features show a spinning galaxy and pictures of other astronomical objects. There's seating for 20 people for public shows.

Display Areas

The observatory has two display areas. The main area is on the ground floor. It has changing exhibits with pictures and models. This is also where the observatory shop is. The upper level shows historic equipment. It also has information about local astronomy.

Facilities and Visits

Mills Observatory is run by Leisure & Culture Dundee. More than 10,000 people visit each year. Entry to the observatory and displays is free. There's a small fee for public planetarium shows.

Group Visits

Groups can visit the observatory during opening hours. Special visits can include a planetarium show. If the sky is clear, groups can also use the main telescope. There is a small charge for group visits. It's a fun place to explore!