The Equatorial Observatory, Penllergare

The Equatorial Observatory at Penllergare stands in the Penllergare Valley Woods in Wales, a Grade II* listed building with a history tied to some of the earliest astrophotography ever attempted.

About The Equatorial Observatory, Penllergare

The observatory was built in 1846 by John Dillwyn Llewelyn, a pioneering photographer and scientist, as a birthday gift for his daughter Thereza on her sixteenth birthday. It is recognised as the second oldest astronomical observatory in Wales.

History

In 1855, Llewelyn and Thereza used the observatory to take some of the earliest photographs of the moon. The building later saw harder times: during the Second World War, American troops stationed nearby reportedly used it for target practice. Today it is a scheduled ancient monument, with restoration under way in partnership with Dark Sky Wales, including plans for a planetarium in the tower.

Telescopes & research

The site comprises a cylindrical tower that held the telescope chamber and a rectangular laboratory with a vaulted roof, the latter built partly from terracotta bricks salvaged from the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits within Penllergare Valley Woods in Wales, United Kingdom, at an elevation of around 80 metres, in a landscaped valley setting rather than a city.

Visiting The Equatorial Observatory, Penllergare

The building is part of an ongoing restoration project; check the Penllergare Trust or Dark Sky Wales for current opening arrangements before visiting, as access may be limited while work continues.

See your named star from here

A tower built for capturing the moon on camera is a fitting spot to think about a star's exact position in the sky. If you've named a star, its RA/Dec can be traced from historic sites like this one - see the catalogue.