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Guided Tour of the Norman Lockyer Observatory (IA Section)
Tue. 20 May 2025 at 2:30 pm
£5 – £10
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A tour of the planetarium and observatory domes at the Norman Lockyer Observatory in Sidmouth.
The visit, which is expected to last two hours, includes an introductory talk, a planetarium show, and a tour of the three historic dome telescopes.
Norman Lockyer (1836-1920) was a scientist and the world’s first professor of astronomical physics at the Royal College of Science, now part of Imperial College. Using the newly developed electromagnetic spectroscopy, he detected in the sun, and named, the element Helium, then unknown on earth. He was knighted in 1897.
On retiring to Salcombe Regis in 1913, he established the Hill Observatory near his home. After his death, it was renamed the Norman Lockyer Observatory. Today, it is a centre for amateur astronomy, meteorology, radio astronomy, and the promotion of science education.
No booking is required. There is ample parking, but no public transport
Charge: £10 for adults, £5 for children (cash only please).
Lunch prior to the visit can be booked individually at The Blue Ball Inn/Restaurant in Sidford (01395 514062) or in Sidmouth, both 2 miles away