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38-578: The UK Astronomy Technology Centre ( UK ATC ) is based at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh , Scotland, and is part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council . The UK ATC designs, builds, develops, tests and manages major instrumentation projects in support of UK and international Astronomy . It has design offices, workshops and test facilities for both ground- and space-based instruments, including

76-427: A 6.4-inch (16 cm) transit telescope and a 3.5-inch (9 cm) azimuth circle . In 1852 Charles Piazzi Smyth – second Astronomer Royal for Scotland – came up with the idea of building astronomical observatories on high mountains with good weather. He travelled to Tenerife a few years later for site testing. Nothing came of it until about 100 years later, when this mode of operation became common practice

114-424: A measurement of stellar parallax), and eventually he was beaten to the punch by Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel , who published a parallax of 10.3 light years (9.6% too small) for 61 Cygni in 1838. Henderson published his results in 1839, but was relegated to second place because of his lack of confidence. He later published confirming observations by Thomas Maclear . Alpha Centauri remained the nearest known star until

152-742: A period of re-organisation and uncertainty. Andrew Lawrence became Regius Professor of Astronomy in the University of Edinburgh, whereas the title of Astronomer Royal for Scotland went to John Brown of the University of Glasgow . For a while Paul Murdin was acting director of the ROE. In 1993 the observatories of the UK – the Royal Greenwich Observatory (RGO), the Royal Observatory Edinburgh,

190-588: A suite of test labs capable of handling the largest current and projected instruments. The UK ATC was formed in 1998 in Edinburgh from the technology departments of the Royal Observatory , Edinburgh (ROE), and the Royal Greenwich Observatory , Cambridge (RGO). Its initial "customers" were the then new Gemini Observatory , the former ROE observatories in Hawaii (the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) and

228-569: Is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard . The grave may be either in the grave of Alexander Adie or in a grave marked by the stone "to his memory". His name is not recorded on the Adie grave; Adie himself died 14 years after Henderson. A blue plaque is installed on his house at 1 Hillside Crescent. It refers to him as "Thomas J. A. Henderson", similar to middle names wrongly added to Misplaced Pages around 2007. A larger memorial (naming him "Thomas Henderson")

266-747: Is owned by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). The ROE comprises the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) of STFC, the Institute for Astronomy of the School of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Edinburgh , and the ROE Visitor Centre. The observatory carries out astronomical research and university teaching; design, project management, and construction of instruments and telescopes for astronomical observatories ; and teacher training in astronomy and outreach to

304-468: Is remembered today. It was pointed out to him by Manuel John Johnson of the East India Company's observatory on Saint Helena that the bright southern star Alpha Centauri had a large proper motion , and Henderson concluded that it might be relatively close. The 1830s version of the "space race" was to be the first person to measure the distance to a star using parallax , a task which is easier

342-447: Is used for undergraduate teaching. As of April 2012, the 1967 telescope and mount have been removed to Mid-Kent Astronomical Society; a replacement telescope will be installed later in 2012. The Crawford Collection has first editions of most books relevant to the history of astronomy. This includes many works by the likes of Brahe , Copernicus , Galileo , Kepler and Newton . For the most part, Lord Lindsay collected this library in

380-689: The Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes , and the Joint Astronomy Centre in Hawaii (operating UKIRT and JCMT) – came under the single directorship of Alec Boksenberg , until then director of the RGO. In 1994 the SERC was split up and the ROE became part of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC). In 1995 the merged observatories were dissolved into four independent entities. Having lost

418-530: The Science and Technology Facilities Council the UK ATC is increasingly working on projects with astronomical institutions beyond the UK and the EU , with institutions dedicated to science and technology other than astronomy, and with technology-related businesses. Royal Observatory, Edinburgh The Royal Observatory, Edinburgh (ROE) is an astronomical institution located on Blackford Hill in Edinburgh . The site

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456-610: The Starlink Project was formed to support astronomical image processing in the UK, the ROE became one of the six original nodes of the Starlink network. Over the years 1973–1979 the ROE built the 3.8-metre UK Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) on Mauna Kea in Hawaii . This is an early example of the use of thin mirrors in large telescopes. The ROE operated UKIRT in cooperation with the University of Hawaii and built instruments for it, including

494-632: The United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT)), and a former RGO observatory, the Isaac Newton Group on La Palma , Canary Islands . More recently, collaboration with the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have gained importance. Major projects and collaborations include: Following increased government emphasis on knowledge transfer and declining funds for

532-457: The 1870s and 1880s. An early addition was that of over 2500 items from Charles Babbage 's library after his death in 1871. The Visitor Centre hosts public events, including astronomy lectures and public open nights. The Observatory also holds classes, professional development courses, and other educational events for primary and secondary schools. Thomas James Henderson Born in Dundee , he

570-865: The ESO/SERC Southern Sky Survey, which in turn extends the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey beyond its southern limit. In 1988 the telescope was handed over to the Anglo-Australian Observatory , which until 2010 operated it for Australia and the United Kingdom (UK); in July 2010, the Australian Astronomical Observatory was formed, to operate the telescope as part of a facility entirely under Australian control. The photographic laboratory and plate library for

608-586: The RGO – was retained by the newly formed UK Astronomy Technology Centre , which superseded the ROE as the Edinburgh establishment of the PPARC. (The ROE name remains as an umbrella term for UKATC; IfA, Edinburgh University; and the Visitor Centre). Following the work on Gemini, the UK ;ATC was put in charge of managing the construction of the 4-metre f/1 VISTA (Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy). In

646-501: The ROE as an SRC/SERC establishment spent most of its resources on running and supporting national facilities, while astronomical research was left to the university's Department of Astronomy. The ROE operated the UK Schmidt Telescope (UKST) since it was opened in 1973. This took photographic plates in blue light of the entire southern sky. Together with red-light plates taken by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) they form

684-566: The Royal Observatory and to abolish the post of Astronomer Royal for Scotland. When the Earl of Crawford learned of the plans to close the Royal Observatory, he offered to give the instruments of his own Dunecht observatory and his unique astronomical library to the nation on condition that the Government build and maintain a new Royal Observatory to replace the one on Calton Hill. Ralph Copeland

722-492: The UK's joining fee. Also Astronomer Royal for Scotland and Regius Professor of Astronomy in the University of Edinburgh : Directors of ROE or UK ATC after amalgamation and dissolution of "The Royal Observatories": The original 1894 building includes two cylindrical copper domes on top of the East and West Towers. These were refurbished in 2010. The East Dome still shelters a 36-inch (0.9 m) Cassegrain reflector that

760-768: The UKST in 1988 – the ROE now also lost the UKIRT and the JCMT, operated by the independent Joint Astronomy Centre . ROE retained its role of building instruments for telescopes and satellites. It also became the UK project office for the construction of the Gemini Observatory , a pair of 8.1-metre telescopes run by seven countries. A review of the Royal Observatories in 1996 concluded that the running of observatories and building of instruments should be put out to competitive tender, raising

798-462: The UKST remained at the ROE in Edinburgh. Since 1967 the ROE had been operating a machine (GALAXY – G eneral A utomatic L uminosity A nd X - Y ) to digitise photographic plates. After the opening of the UKST, this was upgraded to become the COSMOS (COordinates, Sizes, Magnitudes, Orientations and Shapes) machine in 1975. It operated until 1993 and was replaced by a new SuperCOSMOS machine. When in 1980

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836-477: The closer the star. Henderson was thus in a good position to be this person. After retiring back to the United Kingdom due to bad health, he began analysing his measurements and eventually came to the conclusion that Alpha Centauri was just slightly less than one parsec away, 3.25 light years . This figure is reasonably accurate, being 25.6% too small. Henderson did not immediately publish his results, however (there had been previous, discredited attempts to claim

874-637: The discovery of Proxima Centauri in 1915 by Robert T. A. Innes . In the meantime, his measurement work at the Cape had led him to be appointed the first Astronomer Royal for Scotland in 1834. The vacant chair of astronomy at the University of Edinburgh was given to him on the advice of Prime Minister Lord Melbourne . From 1834 he worked at the City Observatory (then called the Calton Hill Observatory) in Edinburgh until his death. In April, 1840 he

912-416: The fear of privatisation or closure. In 1997 this came to a halt and instead it was decided to reduce the RGO and the ROE into a smaller single astronomy technology centre. In 1998 the RGO was closed, while the ROE escaped lightly: The Plate Library and SuperCOSMOS machine were handed over to the University of Edinburgh, while the technology and project management expertise of the ROE – and to a lesser degree of

950-627: The first ever common-user infrared camera. In 1987 the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) – also on Mauna Kea – was handed over to the ROE after the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory had completed its construction. The JCMT is a 15-metre diameter, millimetre- and sub-millimetre-wavelength telescope, which was run by a partnership of the UK, the Netherlands and Canada until 2014. After Malcolm Longair – ninth Astronomer Royal for Scotland – left in 1990, astronomy in Edinburgh underwent

988-491: The new Science Research Council (SRC), which in 1981 became the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC). From 1961 to 1973 the ROE's Earlyburn Outstation some 20 miles (30 km) south of Edinburgh was used for optical tracking of artificial satellites. From 1967 to 1976 the observatory operated a 16/24-inch (0.4/0.6 m) Schmidt camera – matching the one in Edinburgh – at its Monte Porzio Catone observing station near Rome. A division of labour developed: By 1976

1026-510: The observatory the title of "Royal Observatory of King George the Fourth". In 1834 – with Government funding – the instrumentation of the observatory was completed. This cleared the way to uniting the observatory with the Regius Chair, and Thomas Henderson was appointed the first Astronomer Royal for Scotland and second Regius Professor of Astronomy. The main instruments of the new observatory were

1064-592: The position remained vacant until 1834. In 1811 private citizens had founded the Astronomical Institution of Edinburgh with John Playfair – professor of natural philosophy – as its president. The Institution acquired grounds on Calton Hill to build an observatory, which was designed by John's nephew William Henry Playfair ; it remains to this day as the Playfair building of the City Observatory . During his visit of Edinburgh in 1822, George IV bestowed upon

1102-634: The public. The ROE Library includes the Crawford Collection of books and manuscripts gifted in 1888 by the 26th Earl of Crawford . Before it moved to the present site in 1896, the Royal Observatory was located on Calton Hill , close to the centre of Edinburgh, at what is now known as the City Observatory . The University of Edinburgh in 1785 and by Royal Warrant of George III created the Regius Chair of Astronomy and appointed Robert Blair first Regius Professor of Astronomy. After his death in 1828

1140-456: The time ball on Calton Hill and the time gun on Edinburgh Castle by telegraph wire. It also controlled a time gun in Dundee and a clock at Rosyth dockyard . In the 1910s and 1920s research at the ROE led to more accurate pendulum clocks , which remained in service until they had to give way to quartz clocks in the 1960s. On May 21, 1913, at 01:00, a bomb planted by suffragettes detonated. No one

1178-513: The tradition of the UKST this is a survey telescope with a wide field of view. It works in the infrared and uses an array of 16 large infrared detectors. The telescope is located at the Paranal Observatory of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). In 1962 five European countries had founded the ESO; the UK joined in 2002 as the tenth member country. VISTA was handed over to ESO in 2009 as part of

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1216-483: The world over. A time service was established in 1858. Timings of star transits were used to keep the observatory clock accurate. The clock was wired up to control the drop of a time ball on Nelson's Monument . This is visible from the port of Leith , thus providing accurate time for shipping. Another wire led to a time gun on Edinburgh Castle . Chronic underfunding by the Government eventually led to Smyth's resignation in 1888. The Government then intended to close

1254-614: The young Henderson enter the larger world of astronomical science, and on his death a posthumous letter recommended to the Admiralty that Henderson take his place. Henderson was passed over for that position, but the recommendation was enough to get him a position at the Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa . There he made a considerable number of stellar observations between April 1832 and May 1833, including those for which he

1292-504: Was appointed third Astronomer Royal for Scotland and oversaw the move of the two observatories from Dunecht and Calton Hill to Blackford Hill . The new site was opened in April 1896. The instruments to move into the domes were a 15-inch (38 cm) refractor (East Dome) and a 24-inch (0.6 m) reflector (West Dome). An 8.5-inch (22 cm) transit circle was housed in a separate building further west. The time service continued to control

1330-531: Was educated at the High School of Dundee , after which he trained as a lawyer, working his way up through the profession as an assistant to a variety of nobles. However, his major hobbies were astronomy and mathematics, and after coming up with a new method for using lunar occultation to measure longitude he came to the attention of Thomas Young , superintendent of the Royal Navy 's "Nautical Almanac". Young helped

1368-705: Was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society . Henderson became a member or fellow of several distinguished societies, including the Royal Astronomical Society (1832) and the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1834). He married Alexander Adie 's daughter Janet Mary Adie (1808–1842) in 1836 and had one daughter, Janet Mary Jane Henderson (1842–1893) who is buried in the Grange Cemetery . He died at home 1 Hillside Crescent in Edinburgh on 23 November 1844 and

1406-471: Was inside the building but there was damage to floors and stone walls. During the first half of the 20th century the ROE pursued the new fields of photographic and photoelectric recording of stellar positions, brightnesses and spectra . From the 1950s onwards the ROE has concentrated even more on instrumentation and automation. In 1965 the ROE moved from the responsibility of the Scottish Office into

1444-560: Was installed in 1930. This is part of the visitor centre exhibition, but is not operational any more. A 16/24-inch (0.4/0.6 m) Schmidt camera was installed in the West Dome in 1951. In 2010 this was removed to the National Museum of Scotland . The only working telescope is a Meade MAX 20in ACF (0.5 m) reflector in a hemispherical dome on top of the teaching laboratories. This telescope

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