Heritage Lecture: Jodrell Bank - The Accidental Observatory

80 years ago, on the late afternoon of 14th December 1945, Bernard Lovell was alone in a muddy field in the Cheshire countryside. The sign at the entrance read “Jodrell Bank Experimental Grounds”, a remote outpost of the University of Manchester botany department.

He had been given permission to work at Jodrell Bank for two weeks. He never left.

Lovell had never intended to build an observatory, nor even a telescope, and he certainly wasn’t an astronomer. It was a series of chance events that changed his life, leading to the creation of one of the world’s great observatories.

As part of our 80th anniversary celebrations, travel back in time with Professor Tim O’Brien on a fascinating journey through history. Illustrated with rare photographs and archival documents, he’ll explore how one man’s fascination with technology and a determination forged by war transformed a small botanical site into a window to the Universe.

🗓️ Thursday 13 November, 19.30 - 21.00.
🍽️ Guests joining us in person also have the option to book a pre-lecture meal at our fantastic First Light Café.

You may also like the following events from Jodrell Bank:

• Next month, 4th October, 06:00 pm, Sci-fi films in the Space Dome: Interstellar in Holmes Chapel
• Next month, 9th October, 07:30 pm, Lovell Lecture: Interstellar Objects and Other Solar System Stories in Holmes Chapel
• Next month, 18th October, 06:00 pm, Sci-fi films in the Space Dome: Alien in Holmes Chapel