Macfarlane Observatory

Macfarlane Observatory was established at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, and holds a notable place in British astronomical history.

About Macfarlane Observatory

Macfarlane Observatory was the first purpose-built university observatory in Britain, making it a landmark site in the history of academic astronomy in the United Kingdom.

History

The observatory was founded in 1757 as part of the University of Glasgow, at a time when dedicated astronomical facilities at British universities were still rare. Its establishment marked an early institutional commitment to observational astronomy in Scotland.

Location & getting there

The observatory is associated with the University of Glasgow, one of Scotland's ancient universities, in the west of Scotland.

Visiting Macfarlane Observatory

No current public visiting information is available for this historic site. Check the University of Glasgow's official channels for any access details before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

More than two and a half centuries after Macfarlane Observatory first turned its instruments to the sky, the same principle applies to a star named through Star Register: give a telescope its coordinates, and it can be found. Name a star and check its position in our catalogue.