Jodrell Bank Observatory
Jodrell Bank Observatory
The Jodrell Bank Observatory is part of the University of Manchester's School of Physics and Astronomy. It is dominated by the monumental Lovell Telescope, the first large fully steerable radio telescope in the world - which still operates as the 3rd largest on the planet.
The telescope is 76m in diameter and stands 89m high. Despite its age (53 years in 2010), it is now more powerful than ever and remains at the forefront of Astrophysics research, working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to observe distant galaxies and objects such as Pulsars and Quasars, far out across the Universe.
The Lovell Telescope sits in a fenced compound on a 35 Hectare site that includes both spaces open to the general public (the ‘Discovery Centre') and spaces that are used solely for Astrophysics research. The research space is home to three other radio-telescopes (including the 25m diameter ‘Mark II' telescope) and the purpose-designed ‘Control Building', which is now the hub of the UK's national network of radio telescopes ‘e-MERLIN'. The proposed site also includes several other original buildings.
The radical developments in Astrophysics generated by the emergence of Radio Astronomy are overlaid on the landscape of the Jodrell Bank Observatory site. Experiments began in 1945, using WWII radar equipment to study meteor showers. Astronomers then began building the world's largest radio telescopes in succession.
The Transit Telescope (1947), made the revolutionary first identification of a radio object outside our own galaxy - the great nebula in Andromeda (1950). Subsequently it was replaced by the Lovell Telescope, (1952-1957). Its first act was to track the carrier rocket of Sputnik I - witnessing the dawn of the Space Age - the only instrument in the world then capable of this, though in fact it works predominantly on scientific research.
At the forefront of Astrophysics since its inception, it is world leading in the research of quasars, pulsars, gravitational lensing and in the development of interferometry.
Education Programmes
Our term-time education programme offers unique learning experiences at a site of current and world-leading science research. We cater for all learners; from Early Years pupils to A-level students.
You can choose from a wide range of workshops with our expert presenters, linking to many aspects of the science curriculum. On the day your pupils will also have the opportunity to explore our interactive exhibits and put their space questions to those in the know! Plus, we offer a host of teacher support resources, including downloadable classroom materials and pupil worksheets.
Example Workshops
Early Years: Inflatable Planetarium
Come meet Mole! This session begins with a story about Mole and his friends. Through it your pupils will learn about things that give off light and things which reflect light. Afterwards your pupils will spend time in our Inflatable Planetarium, where they will see the Sun, Moon and stars. We join up the stars into the constellations and hear another story from the ancient Greek myths. Please let us know if there is anything in particular you want us to focus on.
Key Stage 1: Inflatable Planetarium
A presenter led, fully customisable session in our Inflatable Planetarium. Pupils can find out why we get day and night, have look at the seasonal constellations, hear a story from the ancient Greek myths and fly through the Solar System! Plus they have the opportunity to put their space questions to our presenter. Please let us know if there is anything in particular you want us to focus on.
Key Stage 2: Mars Rover Challenge
In this hands-on, team-building workshop, pupils learn about the exploration of Mars by the current Curiosity rover, along with the engineering challenges in landing crafts on another planet. Teams of pupils must then construct a device out of limited resources, to safely land their own fragile cargo! (Please note this workshop makes use of balloons and eggs).
Key Stage 3: The Sun
This session uses a number of practical, hand-on activities to deepen your pupils’ understanding of their closest star. The workshop covers topics including the position of the Sun, the nature of some of its radiation (light, infrared and ultraviolet) and the states of matter in the Sun, including plasma. An infrared camera demonstration and decoding ultraviolet messages are among the highlights of this workshop.
Key Stage 4: Electromagnetic Spectrum
In this hands-on and engaging workshop students discover the electromagnetic spectrum. They learn about basic wave properties such as frequency, wavelength, reflection and refraction, before exploring some real-world applications, such as telescopes and optical fibres. Students observe the effect of our atmosphere on electromagnetic waves and investigate first-hand the emission spectra of different materials and why they are important in astronomy.
Key Stage 5: Radio Telescopes
In this workshop we introduce students to the use of radio telescopes. They investigate why the parabolic structure of the Lovell Telescope is essential and how the size of a telescope relates to its resolution. Then, using real data collected by the 6.4m telescope at Jodrell Bank, students calculate the rotation speed and mass for the Triangulum galaxy.
All students should bring a pencil, ruler and calculator to this session. Due to the advanced maths and physics content, students should be studying A-level physics or equivalent to take part in this workshop.