BOYDEN OBSERVATORY

In addition to its role as an astronomy research station, Boyden Observatory also has a science education centre, under the auspices of the Free State University and with the support of the Friends of Boyden. Among its prerogatives, the provision of its facilities for the public. In any case, it is a surprising observatory located about fifteen kilometres northeast of the city of Bloemfontein, in the province of Etat-Libre. Its history is just as surprising since it began in 1889 when it was founded... in Peru, near Lima, following the colossal legacy of a certain Uriah A. Boyden, a priori an amateur of science in general and astronomy in particular. In 1927, however, the observatory was moved to South Africa (a trot!) in order to benefit from a better observation site (weather conditions and atmospheric stability). Today, it is managed by the state-free university. Among the instruments at his disposal is the 330 mm diameter Alvin Clark refractor, venerable and a superb astronomical telescope over 110 years old! It is also accessible to visitors for observations. Boyden Observatory also has the third largest optical telescope in Africa, the 1.5-metre diameter UFS-Boyden telescope, a 254-mm Metcalf astronomical telescope, a solar telescope (still used for public tours), an observation platform to install mobile telescopes and do astrophotography, a library containing multi-centenary books, etc. Everything would be better in the best of all worlds if its access were easier! Unfortunately, to date, it seems rather difficult to know the dates of the scheduled evenings, as well as their possible cost, and the conditions and activities proposed on site! This situation is all the more unfortunate as this observatory seems to be very dynamic at its core.