Jodrell Bank Observatory is part of the University of Manchester’s School of Physics and Astronomy.
Our visit to Jodrell Bank Discovery Center will be a great day for students to explore the wonders of the universe and learn more about the workings of the giant Lovell Telescope.
Planet Pavilion:
Our visit to the Planet Pavilion will allow students to discover the size of our own solar system, the scale of the Milky Way and the extent of the universe using our interactive games.
Space Pavilion:
By visiting the Space Pavilion exhibition, students will discover how Jodrell Bank scientists use radio telescopes to learn more about distanhttp://www.jodrellbank.net/t objects in space.
The Lovell Telescope
Students will be able to see and experience the ‘Lovell Telescope’ which for over 50 years has been a familiar feature of the Cheshire landscape and an internationally renowned landmark in the world of astronomy.
Since the summer of 1957 it has been quietly probing the depths of space, a symbol of our wish to understand the universe in which we live. Even now, it remains one of the biggest and most powerful radio telescopes in the world, spending most of its time investigating cosmic phenomena which were undreamed of when it was conceived.
The Structure of the Lovell Telescope
The most striking feature of the Lovell Telescope is the huge white bowl that can be seen for many miles around. This bowl, fashioned in the shape of a paraboloid, is the part of the telescope that gathers incoming radio waves (see the featured image). When the telescope is pointed towards a radio source in the sky, waves arriving from the source are intercepted by the bowl and reflected from the steel surface into the focus box mounted on top of the central tower. Here, at the focal point of the reflector, a small aerial picks up the waves and feeds them into a sensitive radio receiver.
Gardens & Grounds
The Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre Gardens are a great family-friendly space, perfect for a picnic, a contemplative walk or for burning off some energy .
The fully accessible pathway connects the Galaxy Garden, Space Playground and areas of the arboretum (tree collection).
The site is about 35 acres and contains over 3000 trees and shrubs. These form the Lovell Tree Collection which was started by Sir Bernard Lovell in 1972 and opened to the public in 1976. Trees, seeds and plants were gifted to Sir Bernard on many of his visits to observatories, universities and space projects around the world.
For further information please visit the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre website by clicking on the ‘Home’ Link below.
