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Given the Observatory’s long past association with the BAA and Lunar Section, this is sad news. I hope government money can be found to keep it running.
https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/consultations-and-surveys/mills-observatory-consultation“Mills Observatory was gifted to the people of Dundee in 1935 through a bequest from John Mills, who was a linen and twine manufacturer and a keen amateur scientist. It was purpose built to encourage the public to have a greater understanding of science.” It has a Cooke 10″ refactor. We need more benefactors.
Thought members would like to know the situation. Im presuming this topic has not already been posted.
Tim
That would be very sad indeed. I recall a wonderful visit to the Mills Observatory during the BAA weekend meeting in Dundee in 2016.
The news that Dundee Council are proposing to close the City’s Mills Observatory is unwelcome. Perhaps BAA members can make their views know by partipipating in this online petition.
Denis Buczynski
https://www.change.org/p/mills-observatory-closure?recruited_by_id=eb79e340-1db3-11ef-832c-2386420cb3d8&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=psf&utm_medium=copylinkAttachments:
Denis, I did sign that petition.
There is a Dundee Council survey form linked to the link i gave, which provides boxes for comments.
Cheers…I’ve visited The Mills several times and it’s very concerning that its future as an astronomical observatory is in doubt. I will add my support to the survey and petition.
Another favourite in Scotland was the City Observatory on Calton Hill, Edinburgh. Sadly, it fell int0o disrepair and the City of Edinburgh converted it into an Arty Farty Centre
https://www.collective-edinburgh.art/visit/site-history
https://www.astronomyedinburgh.org/about-us/a-guide-to-edinburghs-popular-observatory/
Alex.
Thanking every one for there support of our observatory which is under threat and has a long history of connections to the BAA
regards
RobertRobert Law
Good news ! The Mills Observatory will not be closing ! I would like to thank The BAA council and members for there suport of the observatory and to the huge support we have had from the public also to the various space companies and trusts etc for donating funds to keep our observatory open.
regards
Robert Law
Robert Law
Yes this is as good a result as could be expected. The Board has been kept up to date on this by Lyn Smith and I have seen the Dundee City Council report that recommends the council provide enough funding to keep the observatory open for the next 3 years.
Another thing I note from the report is that they appear to be planning to floodlight Broughty Castle! As well as being bad for astronomy, this is particularly hard to understand as their objective was supposed to be to save money.
On the lighting front, there might be an opportunity to play back Dundee City Council’s own nett zero plan: https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/net_zero_transition_plan_2024-2030.pdf
This states that 25% of its emissions are from the electricity used in its buildings sector. This is the second largest contributor (after heating of buildings). As a consequence, their action plan item OE2 is about addressing lighting in buildings (though not OF buildings; I would hope this would be included).
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