Latest news with #GreatEquatorialTelescope
Time Out
2 days ago
- Science
- Time Out
Greenwich's legendary observatory is getting a massive £77 million makeover
It was first built in 1675, after King Charles II ordered a warrant for the construction of the Royal Observatory. Now, 350 years later, the Christopher Wren-designed observatory overlooking Greenwich Park is getting a major £77 million renovation. Jamie Fobert Architects will be heading up the major glow-up, after the firm won a public competition to take ownership of the project in 20222. The project, called 'First Light' will add a new entry pavilion and garden walk, accessible routes to the Great Equatorial Telescope and Planetarium (including a lift tower), refreshed galleries with interactive displays, and new space with shops and cafés called 'Astronomers Court'. Work will begin in September 2025, with the gardens and the accessible routes getting an overhaul which will mean they reach the telescope for the first time. Of the £77 million budget, £50.5 million has been secured so far. The project is due to be complete by spring 2028. Paddy Rodgers, chief executive of Royal Museums Greenwich, said: 'Founded 350 years ago, the Royal Observatory Greenwich is Britain's oldest purpose-built scientific institution. It is the birthplace of modern astronomy and the home of the Prime Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time. 'Through this project we aim to inspire new audiences and advance our remit as a place for the public understanding of astronomy as decreed by our Royal Warrant. The Royal Observatory has long been a place of curiosity, meticulous observation and creative thinking. This encapsulates the spirit of this project.' The London beer that was just crowned the best in Britain for 2025.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Historic attraction where ‘time began' in the UK reveals £77million redevelopment
Here's how to stand in both western and eastern hemispheres when you visit CLOCKED IT Historic attraction where 'time began' in the UK reveals £77million redevelopment Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Royal Observatory in Greenwich is undergoing a multi-million pound transformation. Work will start in September to upgrade the observatory building with new gardens as well as accessibility routes to the telescope for the first time. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 New designs for the Royal Observatory have been revealed Credit: Jamie Fobert Architects 5 A new lift will allow those who need accessibility options to see the telescope Credit: Jamie Fobert Architects The observatory, which is within Royal Museums Greenwich, is marking its 350th anniversary with a transformation. The project called 'First Light' will upgrade and create new spaces around the observatory. Of the £77million budget, £50.5 million has been secured so far, with the money going towards an entry pavilion for visitors as well as a garden walk. Accessibility will increase around the site with new routes set to be created to the Great Equatorial Telescope and Planetarium. This will include a lift tower, which will provide full accessibility to the Great Equatorial Telescope for the first time. The existing galleries will be refreshed with new and interactive astronomy displays being installed. A new space called 'Astronomers Court' will be created and used for events, retail and a cafe. Outside, there will be new landscaping and the planting of trees and plants to blend the observatory into its surroundings in Greenwich Park. The project is set to begin in autumn 2025 with all work set to be completed by spring 2028. There are warnings of phased closures while work on the project is taking place throughout the observatory. Deer have returned to Greenwich Park 5 There will be a new event space too Credit: Jamie Fobert Architects 5 The observatory building is considered the birthplace of astronomy Credit: Alamy The observatory building was designed by Christopher Wren in 1675 and is Britain's oldest building that was purpose-built for science. The Royal Observatory is the birthplace of astronomy, and is considered where 'time began' because it's the home of Greenwich Mean Time, and the Prime Meridian. Since 1884, the world's time zones have been measured from a line at the Royal Observatory. And GMT, which means Greenwich Mean Time, is what we all set our clocks to. Outside of the Royal Observatory, near the courtyard, is The Meridian Line, and if you put one foot either side of it, you'll be standing in both the western and eastern hemispheres. The Royal Observatory sits on a hill in Greenwich Park in south east London, overlooking the River Thames. For anyone wanting to visit, the Great Equatorial Telescope is in the Octagon Room, and is the oldest part of the observatory. Entry to the Royal Observatory costs £24 for adults and £12 for children (4-15). Tickets for students are £18 and children under four go free. There's a planetarium there, too, which does a variety of shows and are bookable online. Guided tours around the observatory are an additional £5 per adult and £2.20 for children, which take visitors to see the observatory's most treasured objects. But make sure to check in on the website for opening dates and times as the upgrades might change these. Plus, here's the UK's newest national museum is more like an IKEA store. And attractions across the UK that are the most-visited, and completely free to enter.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Historic attraction where ‘time began' in the UK reveals £77million redevelopment
THE Royal Observatory in Greenwich is undergoing a multi-million pound transformation. Work will start in September to upgrade the Advertisement 5 New designs for the Royal Observatory have been revealed Credit: Jamie Fobert Architects 5 A new lift will allow those who need accessibility options to see the telescope Credit: Jamie Fobert Architects The observatory, which is within The project called 'First Light' will upgrade and create new spaces around the observatory. Of the £77million budget, £50.5 million has been secured so far, with the money going towards an entry pavilion for visitors as well as a garden walk. Accessibility will increase around the site with new routes set to be created to the Great Equatorial Telescope and Planetarium. Advertisement Read More on Holidays This will include a lift tower, which will provide full accessibility to the Great Equatorial Telescope for the first time. The existing galleries will be refreshed with new and interactive astronomy displays being installed. A new space called 'Astronomers Court' will be created and used for events, retail and a cafe. Outside, there will be new landscaping and the planting of trees and plants to blend the observatory into its surroundings in Advertisement Most read in News Travel The project is set to begin in autumn 2025 with all work set to be completed by spring 2028. There are warnings of phased closures while work on the project is taking place throughout the observatory. Deer have returned to Greenwich Park 5 There will be a new event space too Credit: Jamie Fobert Architects 5 The observatory building is considered the birthplace of astronomy Credit: Alamy Advertisement The observatory building was designed by Christopher Wren in 1675 and is Britain's oldest building that was purpose-built for science. The Royal Observatory is the birthplace of astronomy, and is considered where 'time began' because it's the home of Since 1884, the world's time zones have been measured from a line at the Royal Observatory. And GMT, which means Greenwich Mean Time, is what we all set our clocks to. Advertisement Outside of the Royal Observatory, near the courtyard, is The Meridian Line, and if you put one foot either side of it, you'll be standing in both the western and eastern hemispheres. The Royal Observatory sits on a hill in Greenwich Park in south east London, overlooking the For anyone wanting to visit, the Great Equatorial Telescope is in the Octagon Room, and is the oldest part of the observatory. Entry to the Royal Observatory costs £24 for adults and £12 for children (4-15). Advertisement Tickets for students are £18 and children under four go free. There's a planetarium there, too, which does a variety of shows and are bookable online. Guided tours around the observatory are an additional £5 per adult and £2.20 for children, which take visitors to see the observatory's most treasured objects. But make sure to check in on the Advertisement Plus, here's the And attractions across the 5 The Royal Observatory in Greenwich is undergoing a makeover Credit: Jamie Fobert Architects
The Sun
3 days ago
- Science
- The Sun
Historic attraction where ‘time began' in the UK reveals £77million redevelopment
THE Royal Observatory in Greenwich is undergoing a multi-million pound transformation. Work will start in September to upgrade the observatory building with new gardens as well as accessibility routes to the telescope for the first time. 5 5 The observatory, which is within Royal Museums Greenwich, is marking its 350th anniversary with a transformation. The project called 'First Light' will upgrade and create new spaces around the observatory. Of the £77million budget, £50.5 million has been secured so far, with the money going towards an entry pavilion for visitors as well as a garden walk. Accessibility will increase around the site with new routes set to be created to the Great Equatorial Telescope and Planetarium. This will include a lift tower, which will provide full accessibility to the Great Equatorial Telescope for the first time. The existing galleries will be refreshed with new and interactive astronomy displays being installed. A new space called 'Astronomers Court' will be created and used for events, retail and a cafe. Outside, there will be new landscaping and the planting of trees and plants to blend the observatory into its surroundings in Greenwich Park. The project is set to begin in autumn 2025 with all work set to be completed by spring 2028. There are warnings of phased closures while work on the project is taking place throughout the observatory. Deer have returned to Greenwich Park 5 5 The observatory building was designed by Christopher Wren in 1675 and is Britain's oldest building that was purpose-built for science. The Royal Observatory is the birthplace of astronomy, and is considered where 'time began' because it's the home of Greenwich Mean Time, and the Prime Meridian. Since 1884, the world's time zones have been measured from a line at the Royal Observatory. And GMT, which means Greenwich Mean Time, is what we all set our clocks to. Outside of the Royal Observatory, near the courtyard, is The Meridian Line, and if you put one foot either side of it, you'll be standing in both the western and eastern hemispheres. The Royal Observatory sits on a hill in Greenwich Park in south east London, overlooking the River Thames. For anyone wanting to visit, the Great Equatorial Telescope is in the Octagon Room, and is the oldest part of the observatory. Entry to the Royal Observatory costs £24 for adults and £12 for children (4-15). Tickets for students are £18 and children under four go free. There's a planetarium there, too, which does a variety of shows and are bookable online. Guided tours around the observatory are an additional £5 per adult and £2.20 for children, which take visitors to see the observatory's most treasured objects. But make sure to check in on the website for opening dates and times as the upgrades might change these. Plus, here's the UK's newest national museum is more like an IKEA store. And attractions across the UK that are the most-visited, and completely free to enter.
Daily Record
05-06-2025
- Science
- Daily Record
Royal Mail unveil special stamps honouring UK attraction with dual hemispheres
When you stand across the line from this UK spot, you have one foot in the east and one in the west Posting a letter might seem a thing of the past. But whether it's a birthday card, an update from abroad, or just a note of appreciation to a loved one, there are new stamps on the UK market that could fit the bill. Royal Mail has unveiled 10 stamps being issued to celebrate the history and scientific developments achieved at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, since its foundation in 1675. And the attraction has a fascinating feature. The Observatory stands at the Prime Meridian, which divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Visitors can stand with one foot in the East and one foot in the West - literally straddling the hemispheres. The Prime Meridian is also the reference point for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), the basis for all time zones. The main set of six tamps pays home to the the Airy Transit Circle Telescope, Flamsteed House, which is the Great Equatorial Telescope, the largest refracting telescope in the UK, the Annie Maunder Astrographic Telescope, the Prime Meridian where visitors can experience said dual hemispheres, and the Shepherd Gate Clock. A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, honour prize-winning clockmaker John Harrison and his marine timekeepers, ahead of the 250th anniversary of his death next year. The stamps showcase each of Harrison's prototypes for measuring longitude at sea, which became known as H1, H2, H3 and H4. "We are proud to honour the Royal Observatory's 350th anniversary with a set of stamps that celebrate its enduring legacy in advancing our understanding of the universe," said David Gold, Director of External Affairs at Royal Mail. The Royal Observatory was founded by King Charles II in 1675 and was Britain's first state-funded scientific building. The Observatory was founded to provide better star charts that would enhance navigation for global trade. Flamsteed House, the Observatory's original building, became home to ten successive Astronomers Royal who observed the stars and developed new instruments such as the Airy Transit Circle and Great Equatorial Telescope. And what's so special about the Prime Meridian? Well, from the late 19th century, astronomers took thousands of measurements to define the Prime Meridian and establish zero degrees longitude. Their work transformed how we explored our world in an age before smartphones and satellites. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) was made publicly visible via the Shepherd Gate Clock and its distribution via telegraph signals became an essential part of daily life. Out at sea, Royal Navy surveyors plotted their longitude from Greenwich using chronometers based on John Harrison's revolutionary marine timekeepers. The widespread use by ships worldwide of charts based on the Greenwich Meridian contributed to the international recognition of Greenwich as Prime Meridian of the world in 1884. The stamp images narrate the story of the Royal Observatory and its pivotal role in the history of astronomy, timekeeping, and navigation. The set features specially commissioned artwork highlighting key areas such as notable buildings and significant objects from the collection. Fancy surprising a relative with a good old-fashioned letter? The stamps are available to pre-order from June 5 by clicking here and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 10 stamps is priced at £17.90. The stamps go on general sale from 12 June. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
