INSTITUTE OF ASTRONOMY - UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

Although the institute did not receive its current name until 1972, astronomical research had been carried out on this site since the early 19th century. In fact, it is one of the university's oldest scientific research departments, and is well known throughout the world. The imposing observatory building was built and is now classified as equivalent to our French historical monuments. Originally, it had several telescopes installed in the central dome and in the east building, including instruments to accurately determine the positions of stars and planets. To the southwest, the white dome houses the "historic" telescope donated by the Duke of Northumberland in the 1830s, which was once one of the largest refractory telescopes (astronomical glasses) in the world. The observatory for the study of the Sun was established in Cambridge in 1912, before being abandoned and transformed into laboratories and offices. Other domes are visible on the site, including the southern dome that houses the famous 91 cm diameter telescope. We can only advise you to come and visit this mythical observatory at night! First of all, because organized tours are free, without reservation, and you can even come here only to make observations behind one of the observatory's historical telescopes! Then because the atmosphere is really nice, between relaxed tourism and serious British. And then there is the notoriety of the Institute and the University: observing in Cambridge is not for everyone.