Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory
Moor Park, Blackpool Road, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 1NN
The observatory was built in Moor Park in 1927 to escape the chimney smoke that clouded the view of the skies from one at Deepdale. It houses a historic Cooke 8-inch refractor telescope, as well as displays of meteorites and astronomical history. James Gibbs who designed and built the observatory was a local engineer and inventor. Jeremiah Horrocks was a Lancashire astronomer who correctly predicted the transit of Venus in 1639.
Preston and District Astronomical Society members and the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute at University of Central Lancashire are opening the observatory for visitors to view the impressive telescope and displays about astronomy and Preston's part in it.
The archive of the Observatory and its curator James Gibbs is held in the University of Central Lancashire's Special Collections - see link below, where you can see an example of one of Gibbs' many sketches of clouds and weather as part of his observations
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 07 September:
- 1000-1500
- Sunday 08 September:
- 1000-1500
- Saturday 14 September:
- 1000-1500
- Sunday 15 September:
- 1000-1500
Location & directions
Moor Park, Blackpool Road, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 1NN
- Directions:
- In the north-west corner of Moor Park, between Garstang Road and Blackpool Road. Look for the domed building.
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Additional information
You may need to queue to visit the Observatory. It's a small building and numbers inside are limited. There is a cafe in Moor Park, parking and toilets, but please note that Radio 2 in the Park is taking place on the first weekend so facilities may not be available.
