Flamsteed visit to Jodrell Bank Apr 29, 2007

However, the best part of the whole day had to be the visit to the control room, where we were allowed past the usual plate glass barriers and into the heart of the set-up. I think a number of us were pleased to discover that, despite the continual upgrading of the equipment, the original control desk was still in place – having been upgraded simply by being re-enamelled and still in a very “army surplus” khaki. We were also amused to discover that the set of binoculars kept in the control room, presumably to allow the controller to view the surface of the dish quickly, were also ex-military equipment but in this case they were German.

On a final note, those binoculars were also used to watch the peregrine falcons who had for the last seven years been nesting on the Lovell Telescope and who had, conveniently, kept the dreaded pigeons and their attendant mess away. Sadly Mrs Peregrine had died the morning that we visited, probably of old age. So if anyone knows of a young female falcon needing a home, Jodrell Bank may be able to assist

Report by Judith-Anne Mackenzie

Flamsteed Astronomy Society

Flamsteed visit to Jodrell Bank

April 28-29, 2007