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Airdrie Public Observatory

December 01, 2023

Airdrie Public Observatory (55° 51’ 56” N, 3° 58’ 58” W) is a fully operational, historic astronomical observatory, which is part of the library building in the town of Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. There are only four public observatories operating in the United Kingdom, all of which are in Scotland. Airdrie Observatory is the smallest, and second oldest.[1]

The logo of the Airdrie Astronomical Association.

The observatory is owned and funded by Culture NL, and operated on their behalf by the Airdrie Astronomical Association (AAA), a local astronomy club and registered charity. The current observatory curators are AAA members William Tennant and Jack Frederick.

Main telescope edit

 
The Observatory's main refracting telescope

Airdrie Observatory is home to a 6" Victorian refracting telescope with an equatorial mount and clockwork drive which is used to track objects across the sky. A manual mechanism is used to open and rotate the observatory's dome.

The telescope eyepieces for the telescope provided a range between 60 and 350 times magnification. The telescope was adapted to use more modern eyepieces. In its day, the Airdrie Observatory telescope would have been considered to be a research grade telescope.

History edit

 
Dr Reid's 3.25-inch (83 mm) refractor telescope in Airdrie Public Observatory
 
The Airdrie Observatory dome.

From 1896 to 1925 Airdrie Observatory was located in the original Airdrie Public Library (which became Airdrie Arts Centre). This library was funded in part by a £1,000 donation from Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish-American philanthropist.[2][3]

The original 3.25“ refracting telescope was given to the town by Dr Thomas Reid, an eminent Glasgow oculist and philanthropist. This telescope is no longer in use as repairs cannot be undertaken due to its age and fragility, but it can be seen in the local history room of today's library.

Eventually the library was deemed to be too small and on 25 September 1925, the current library building was opened, funded this time by Airdrie Savings Bank and by the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust.

The purpose-built observatory was incorporated into the new library building, with its dome on the library roof.

In 2013, the observatory underwent extensive refurbishment, including the installation of a new dome, and restoration of the main telescope.[4]

Apollo astronauts' visits edit

 
Charlie Duke at Airdrie Observatory.

As part of AAA secretary Aileen Malone's “Walk With Destiny” project,[5] three Apollo astronauts visited the observatory between 2010 and 2012:

  • Brigadier General Charlie Duke, the Apollo 16 Lunar Module Pilot, and the 10th man to walk on the Moon, visited in October 2010, and spoke to local school children about his experiences;[6]
  • Colonel Al Worden, Command Module Pilot on Apollo 15 visited in June 2012. Like Duke, Worden gave a talk and answered questions from local school children;[7]
  • Captain Richard Gordon, Command Module Pilot on the Apollo 12 mission, visited in October 2012, giving a lecture to space enthusiasts at Glasgow Caledonian University.

All three astronauts accepted the position of Honorary President of AAA. Sir Patrick Moore was AAA's first Honorary President, from 2009 until his death in 2012.

Airdrie Astronomical Association edit

Airdrie Astronomical Association, commonly abbreviated to AAA, is a Scottish amateur astronomy club, founded on 1 May 2009. Currently the AAA operates Airdrie Observatory on behalf of Culture NL. The AAA hold weekly meetings in New Wellwynd Parish Church. Every meeting features a presentation from either a club member or guest speaker. The AAA opens the Observatory during astronomical events, at open days, at ten evening sessions between November and January, and, by arrangement, for groups wishing to visit.

See also edit

Other public observatories edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Airdrie Observatory". Culture NL. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  2. ^ . Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  3. ^ David Finkelstein (2007). Edinburgh History of the Book in Scotland, Volume 4: Professionalism and Diversity 1880–2000. Edinburgh University Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-7486-2884-1.
  4. ^ Tonner, Judith (29 September 2009). "New dome to be installed at Airdrie Observatory". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Walk With Destiny".
  6. ^ Tonner, Judith (26 October 2010). "Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke visits Airdrie". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  7. ^ Tonner, Judith (7 June 2011). "Apollo 15 pilot Al Worden visits Airdrie". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 July 2021.

External links edit

  • AAA Official Website
  • AAA Facebook Page
  • Walk With Destiny

55°51′56″N 3°58′58″W / 55.86556°N 3.98278°W / 55.86556; -3.98278

December 01, 2023
airdrie, public, observatory, fully, operational, historic, astronomical, observatory, which, part, library, building, town, airdrie, north, lanarkshire, scotland, there, only, four, public, observatories, operating, united, kingdom, which, scotland, airdrie, . Airdrie Public Observatory 55 51 56 N 3 58 58 W is a fully operational historic astronomical observatory which is part of the library building in the town of Airdrie North Lanarkshire Scotland There are only four public observatories operating in the United Kingdom all of which are in Scotland Airdrie Observatory is the smallest and second oldest 1 The logo of the Airdrie Astronomical Association The observatory is owned and funded by Culture NL and operated on their behalf by the Airdrie Astronomical Association AAA a local astronomy club and registered charity The current observatory curators are AAA members William Tennant and Jack Frederick Contents 1 Main telescope 2 History 3 Apollo astronauts visits 4 Airdrie Astronomical Association 5 See also 5 1 Other public observatories 6 References 7 External linksMain telescope edit nbsp The Observatory s main refracting telescopeAirdrie Observatory is home to a 6 Victorian refracting telescope with an equatorial mount and clockwork drive which is used to track objects across the sky A manual mechanism is used to open and rotate the observatory s dome The telescope eyepieces for the telescope provided a range between 60 and 350 times magnification The telescope was adapted to use more modern eyepieces In its day the Airdrie Observatory telescope would have been considered to be a research grade telescope History edit nbsp Dr Reid s 3 25 inch 83 mm refractor telescope in Airdrie Public Observatory nbsp The Airdrie Observatory dome From 1896 to 1925 Airdrie Observatory was located in the original Airdrie Public Library which became Airdrie Arts Centre This library was funded in part by a 1 000 donation from Andrew Carnegie a Scottish American philanthropist 2 3 The original 3 25 refracting telescope was given to the town by Dr Thomas Reid an eminent Glasgow oculist and philanthropist This telescope is no longer in use as repairs cannot be undertaken due to its age and fragility but it can be seen in the local history room of today s library Eventually the library was deemed to be too small and on 25 September 1925 the current library building was opened funded this time by Airdrie Savings Bank and by the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust The purpose built observatory was incorporated into the new library building with its dome on the library roof In 2013 the observatory underwent extensive refurbishment including the installation of a new dome and restoration of the main telescope 4 Apollo astronauts visits edit nbsp Charlie Duke at Airdrie Observatory As part of AAA secretary Aileen Malone s Walk With Destiny project 5 three Apollo astronauts visited the observatory between 2010 and 2012 Brigadier General Charlie Duke the Apollo 16 Lunar Module Pilot and the 10th man to walk on the Moon visited in October 2010 and spoke to local school children about his experiences 6 Colonel Al Worden Command Module Pilot on Apollo 15 visited in June 2012 Like Duke Worden gave a talk and answered questions from local school children 7 Captain Richard Gordon Command Module Pilot on the Apollo 12 mission visited in October 2012 giving a lecture to space enthusiasts at Glasgow Caledonian University All three astronauts accepted the position of Honorary President of AAA Sir Patrick Moore was AAA s first Honorary President from 2009 until his death in 2012 Airdrie Astronomical Association editAirdrie Astronomical Association commonly abbreviated to AAA is a Scottish amateur astronomy club founded on 1 May 2009 Currently the AAA operates Airdrie Observatory on behalf of Culture NL The AAA hold weekly meetings in New Wellwynd Parish Church Every meeting features a presentation from either a club member or guest speaker The AAA opens the Observatory during astronomical events at open days at ten evening sessions between November and January and by arrangement for groups wishing to visit See also editList of astronomical observatories List of astronomical societies Space telescope Timeline of telescopes observatories and observing technologyOther public observatories edit Royal Observatory Edinburgh Coats Observatory Paisley Mills Observatory DundeeReferences edit Airdrie Observatory Culture NL Retrieved 20 July 2021 Airdrie Library Archived from the original on 8 December 2017 Retrieved 7 December 2017 David Finkelstein 2007 Edinburgh History of the Book in Scotland Volume 4 Professionalism and Diversity 1880 2000 Edinburgh University Press p 43 ISBN 978 0 7486 2884 1 Tonner Judith 29 September 2009 New dome to be installed at Airdrie Observatory Daily Record Retrieved 20 July 2021 Walk With Destiny Tonner Judith 26 October 2010 Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke visits Airdrie Daily Record Retrieved 20 July 2021 Tonner Judith 7 June 2011 Apollo 15 pilot Al Worden visits Airdrie Daily Record Retrieved 20 July 2021 External links editAAA Official Website AAA Facebook Page Walk With DestinyPortals nbsp Scotland nbsp Astronomy nbsp Stars nbsp Spaceflight nbsp Outer space nbsp Solar System nbsp Education nbsp Science 55 51 56 N 3 58 58 W 55 86556 N 3 98278 W 55 86556 3 98278 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Airdrie Public Observatory amp oldid 1184646228, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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