Tolcarn Observatory
Tolcarn Observatory is an established astronomical centre in Cornwall for observation, research and education.
Our mission is to make astronomy accessible to all, through links with schools and through the Tolcarn Astronomy Group, while at the same time being a serious and accredited research facility.
Director Grant Mackintosh is an experienced astronomer, specialising in spectroscopy. His photographs have featured in the BBC’s ‘The Sky at Night’ and ‘Stargazing Live’.
We have a number of telescopes housed in 2 domes and in our “rolloff” roof observatory. Our largest telescope is the Meade LX 200, 14 inch SCT. We have excellent facilities for photography and live streaming.
We will be collaborating with local and country wide astronomy groups and societies to promote astronomy throughout the country.
The Tolcarn observatory will mainly be conducting research into exoplanets.
Look up in awe
Equipment
Our equipment here at the observatory consists of 2 domes and a 12×20 foot “rolloff” roof observatory.
Dome 1 Is the solar dynamics observatory, housing an NEQ6 pro goto mount with dual mounted Hydrogen-alpha solar scopes. (PST and SolarmaxII 60 double stacked with richview).
Dome 2 houses the Meade LX 90, 12 inch SCT telescope. piggy back mounted 80mm triplet apo astrograph refractor.
Main roll off roof observatory houses the Meade LX 200, 14 inch SCT telescope piggy backed 60mm quadruplet astrograph refractor.
Behind the scenes
Imaging section
Canon EOS 600D, Opticstar PX75C coolair colour ccd, Opticstar SL131C colour coolair ccd, 2x QHY5 guide cameras, SBIG STT 8300 ccd with fitted filterwheel containing filters L,R,G,B,H-alpha,OIII,SII.
Shelyak Lhires III Spectrograph.
Additional telescope mounts for field trips include an NEQ6 Pro goto mount, and an EQ5 goto mount.
Classroom
We also have a purpose built classroom that can accommodate 30 people.
ROR warm room
OBSERVATORY TEAM
GRANT MACKINTOSH F.R.A.S.
Observatory Director
Kim Mackintosh F.R.A.S.
Assistant Director/
Chair Tolcarn
Astronomy Group
Jasper
Head of Security