In my 'MG TC restoration progress' thread I happened to mention that I'm working on a project to convert a Victorian underground
reservoir into a visitor centre and planetarium and it was suggested that I start another thread about it - so here it is...
In brief, Sherwood Observatory is owned and operated by Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society (MSAS). It's a charity run entirely by
volunteers and has about 130 members. A big bit of what we do is community outreach using astronomy as a means of encouraging people to take more of
an interest in STEM subjects. The observatory was hand built by the members in the 1970's and 80's in a true LocostBuilders way using
materials recovered from local demolition sites. Even the telescope (one of, if not the biggest in the UK that the public can come and use) was made
from recyled material - the frame is welded together scaffolding poles and the main axis of rotation uses the back axle and hub bearing from a
truck.
In 2014 we bought an underground Victorian reservoir (built in 1886) which is adjacent to the observatory and I'm now leading a project to turn
it into a Science Discovery Centre and Planetarium. Our current budget estimate is ca £5.25m of which we've raised £2.28m so far.
We are just finalising the designs (so the budget will change a bit) and will be launching a matched fund raising campaign in a few weeks. This will
involve charitable trusts (e.g. for education and heritage), corporate donations, hopefully philanthropic donors, and public subscriptions (e.g. a buy
a brick scheme, sponsor a planetarium seat etc etc).
Rather than write loads about it here, if anyone is interested, have a look at the following YouTube links. The first is a recent interview that I
did and the second is a recording of the launch event in November 2021. This has a short presentation justifying why it's needed followed by a
presentation about the observatory and project.
Short Video
Longer launch presentation
thank you for sharing - very interesting.
Watching with interest. I'm five minutes away from SO.
quote:
Originally posted by SPYDER
Watching with interest. I'm five minutes away from SO.
fascinating.
do you have links into the University of Nottingham's school of physics and astronomy?
i work at Nottingham and have good links into the school, so happy to help if i can.
quote:
Originally posted by SteveWallace
quote:
Originally posted by SPYDER
Watching with interest. I'm five minutes away from SO.
You should come along one night. There are usually people there on a Monday and Wednesday from 8pm and unless there is an event on they are normally happy to show people around.
quote:
Originally posted by swanny
fascinating.
do you have links into the University of Nottingham's school of physics and astronomy?
i work at Nottingham and have good links into the school, so happy to help if i can.