Jodrell Bank Observatory

Jodrell Bank Observatory (/ˈdʒɒdrəl/ JOD-rəl) in Cheshire, England, hosts a number of radio telescopes as part of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester. The observatory was established in 1945 by Bernard Lovell, a radio astronomer at the university, to investigate cosmic rays after his work on radar in the Second World War. It has since played an important role in the research of meteoroids, quasars, pulsars, masers and gravitational lenses, and was heavily involved with the tracking of space probes at the start of the Space Age.

"Transit Telescope" redirects here. For the type of telescope, see Transit telescope.

Jodrell Bank Observatory
Alternative namesJodrell Bank Experimental Station
Named afterWilliam Jauderell 
Organization
LocationLower Withington, Cheshire East, Cheshire, North West England, England
Coordinates53°14′10″N 2°18′26″W
Altitude77 m (253 ft)
Established1945 
Websitewww.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk
Telescopes
  • 42ft radio telescope of Jodrell Bank Observatory
  • 7m radio telescope of Jodrell Bank Observatory
  • Cambridge MERLIN telescope
  • Darnhall telescope
  • Defford telescope
  • Knockin telescope
  • Pickmere telescope
  • Searchlight Telescope
  • Transit Telescope
  • Lovell Telescope
  • mERLIN
  • Mark II
  • Mark III 
Location of Jodrell Bank Observatory
  Related media on Commons
LocationCheshire, England
CriteriaCultural: (i), (ii), (iv), (vi)
Reference1594
Inscription2019 (43rd Session)
Area17.38 ha (42.9 acres)
Buffer zone18,569.22 ha (45,885.5 acres)

The main telescope at the observatory is the Lovell Telescope. Its diameter of 250 ft (76 m) makes it the third largest steerable radio telescope in the world. There are three other active telescopes at the observatory; the Mark II, and 42 ft (13 m) and 7 m diameter radio telescopes. Jodrell Bank Observatory is the base of the Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN), a National Facility run by the University of Manchester on behalf of the Science and Technology Facilities Council.

The Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre and an arboretum are in Lower Withington, and the Lovell Telescope and the observatory near Goostrey and Holmes Chapel. The observatory is reached from the A535. The Crewe to Manchester Line passes by the site, and Goostrey station is a short distance away. In 2019, the observatory became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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