University College London Observatory
Practical sessions will be at the University College London Observatory (UCLO) in Mill Hill, North-West London. The Observatory is conveniently reached by Thameslink trains from central London.
The Observatory is in the process of commissioning an 80cm reflecting telescope, one of the largest in the UK. It is currently equipped with the following telescopes: the Radcliffe 24/18-inch and Fry 8-inch refracting telescopes and two 14-inch Celestron robotic reflecting telescopes. The telescopes have a full range of CCD cameras with a variety of broad- and narrow-band photometric filters. In addition there are spectroscopic facilities.
Getting to UCLO
The Observatory is located off the northbound carriageway of the A1 in Mill Hill, North London. (There is no vehicular access from the southbound carriageway; pedestrians on the southbound side of the road must use the under-road subway just north of the Observatory.) It is easily reached by public transport.
Click through for a Google Map, or UK Street Map. The Observatory is on the north-bound (western, or left-hand) side of Watford Way dual carriageway, and not in Mill Hill park. (If in doubt, note that the Observatory domes are easily identifiable by zooming in on Google Maps’ ‘satellite view’.)
From UCL
The fastest way to get to UCLO from UCL is to catch the tube from Warren St to Kentish Town then change to catch a Thameslink service to St Albans, disembarking at Mill Hill Broadway (trains run every 15 minutes). It’s then about 800m, a 10–15-minute walk, to the Observatory.
NOTE: There is no car parking at the Observatory for students, but it is possible to park in the nearby Daws Lane Car Park.