The Design

The observatory will be built at Culloden Battlefield, in partnership with the National Trust for Scotland and as part of the redevelopment of the Visitor Centre there. The Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, and Professor John Brown, the Astronomer Royal for Scotland, have expressed their support for the observatory.

THE OBSERVATORY

The observatory will include a 3m diameter rotating dome which will house a fully computer controlled telescope with an objective mirror of a massive 36cm. Images from the telescope will be projected onto screens in the adjacent observing station, or piped through to the lecture theatre of the new Culloden Visitor Centre.

The proposed telescope is powerful enough to see objects that are up to 15,000 times fainter than those which can be seen with the naked eye. This means it will be possible to see objects that are hundreds of millions of light years away.

At the June 2006 HAS meeting, Maarten de Vries showed the latest computer images of the proposed new observatory currently being planned for Culloden. This is to coincide with the new Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, and so is designed to match it in style and presentation.

These latest images were generated on computer from the actual drawings and plans which have been produced by Rob Nuttall, and which are being used in the discussions with the various bodies involved in the creation of this new improved Jim Savage Lowden Observatory at Culloden.

This image shows the wall that will face the new Visitor Centre. The new observatory will be about 200 yards from the centre, and built in a similar style.

This shows the entrance into the Observing Station, which will house the computers and monitors that will allow remote viewing using the telescope located in the dome. The door on the right will lead into a toilet, and both areas will have disabled access.

It was recently decided that the new telescope will in fact have a traditional 9ft diameter dome.

This view shows the aerial view, and note that there will be a spacious grassy area where members can set up their own telescopes when they wish.

Nice, eh!

This aerial view shows the area around the Culloden Visitor Centre as it is now, with the position of our current observatory highlighted, along with the current Visitor Centre and the stables area. It is next to the stables (which will be removed) that our new observatory will be situated.

This shows the new layout as the current plans stand. Lighting for the area is going to be low level and astronomy-friendly, and notice that there will be easy access to the observatory and parking areas.

This is the list of main features that the new observatory will have:

6m x 4m heated control room with computer desk, internet access and disabled toilet

Raised (timber) platform for dome

3m diameter (motor driven) Pulsar Dome

14” Ritchey Chretien Cassegrain type telescope with full computer pointing and collimation

Large concrete pier, going through timber deck

10m x 6m grass covered observation area with 1.8m high wind proof fence

Mains water and electricity from VC (metered)

There is still much to be done, but this series of pictures shows what we are aiming for in the very near future! Thanks to Maarten for supplying these images and allowing them to be posted for viewing here.

Funding

The project is being undertaken in partnership with the National Trust for Scotland, and with backing and financial support from several organisations. Please visit the next page to find out about the financial aspect of the project and to learn more about our sponsors.