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The Norman Lockyer Observatory, Lockyer Technology Centre & Planetarium (NLO) is a public access optical observatory in East Devon on the Jurassic Coast of South West England. == Location and instruments == (The Norman Lockyer Observatory )(Lockyer Technology Centre MX0LTC ) and Planetarium are situated near a south facing cliff one mile east of the coastal town of Sidmouth, fifteen miles southeast of Exeter and ten miles from the M5 motorway. The observatory provides modern telescopes with computer enhanced imaging, as well as maintaining some of the nation's most historic instruments, and enjoys a relatively dark night sky with a southerly aspect across the sea. There are five domes: McClean (12" refractor), Kensington (10" refractor), Victoria (12" reflector), Connaught (20" reflector), and Mond which houses the famous 6¼-inch Lockyer refractor telescope which the astronomer Norman Lockyer used to discover helium. The observatory is particularly well situated for spectral analysis in astronomy, which requires a clear sky over the whole optical spectrum, as it enjoys a relatively "clean" sky to the east and south across the sea. The atmosphere is usually free of air pollution and light pollution and, as the sea has a uniform temperature, the air is also free of rising currents which can distort optical images. The observatory is active in both optical and radio astronomy and has a vibrant (astro imaging group ), a (radio astronomy group (MX0LTC) ), a meteorology and weather satellite facility and a science history group. Several observatory members are also licensed Radio Amateurs and operate radio call signs MX0LTC (Lockyer Technology Centre) and GB2NLO for special events at the observatory. The facility was operated by the University of Exeter between 1946 and 1987 and transferred to the East Devon District Council in 1988. A convention center for lectures and academic conferences was added in 2005. It cooperates with undergraduate courses of the University of Exeter, the University of Plymouth and the Open Universities, and is available for scientific and educational development projects. The observatory is home to the South West Astronomy Fair each August (2015 = Saturday 8 August). 2012 saw the Centenary of the observatory with special commemorative events taking place throughout that year and the opening of the new Connaught Dome (20" reflector) and (Lockyer Technology Centre ) by Dr. Brian May. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Lockyer Observatory and Planetarium」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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