Bayfordbury Observatory

In the dark countryside of Bayfordbury, Hertfordshire, six miles from the University of Hertfordshire's main Hatfield campus, Bayfordbury Observatory ranks among the largest teaching observatories in the United Kingdom.

About Bayfordbury Observatory

Bayfordbury Observatory is the University of Hertfordshire's astronomical and atmospheric physics remote-sensing facility. It supports undergraduate teaching, staff and student research, and a regular programme of public outreach events.

History

The observatory's first telescope was built in 1969, and it has been used ever since for teaching undergraduate astronomy alongside research and outreach work.

Telescopes & research

The site hosts a range of optical telescopes used for both instruction and remote-sensing atmospheric physics research, supported by students and researchers from the university's Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics.

Location & getting there

Bayfordbury sits in rural Hertfordshire in southeast England, roughly six miles from the University of Hertfordshire's Hatfield campus, chosen for skies darker than those over the city.

Visiting Bayfordbury Observatory

The observatory runs public open evenings between November and March, with self-guided visits from 5pm that include telescope viewing, camera demonstrations, and research talks starting around 6.45pm. Booking is required in advance, visits are capped at two hours, and free parking is available near the Bayfordbury Science Building.

See your named star from here

With a working set of optical telescopes on site, Bayfordbury's team can point toward the coordinates of any named star during a visit. Explore the naming packages or browse the star catalogue to find one.