Jodrell Bank

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Jodrell Bank Jodrell Bank is part of the University of Manchester. It operates the Lovell Telescope and e-MERLIN. JBCA is part of the School of Physics and Astronomy.
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Jodrell Bank Observatory is part of the University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics (JBCA). JBCA has two locations - the Alan Turing building in Manchester and Jodrell Bank Observatory (JBO). JBO operate the Lovell Telescope and the e-MERLIN national radio astronomy facility. JBO also hosts the SKA Headquarters and the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre.

🚀 October Half Term is nearly here!From 26 October–1 November, there’s plenty to discover at Jodrell Bank, with space, s...
22/10/2026

🚀 October Half Term is nearly here!

From 26 October–1 November, there’s plenty to discover at Jodrell Bank, with space, science, creativity and a little Halloween fun along the way! 🎃✨

🔭 Get closer to the iconic Lovell Telescope with Discover the Dish and Telescope Talks
🧪 Expect experiments, surprises and Kids vs Adults in the Curious Kids! Science Show
🎨 Get crafty with Mission: Create!
👻 Hunt down spookily named nebulae on our Spooky Space Trail
📸 Explore The North Revisited exhibition
🌌 Journey across the Universe with free and add-on Space Dome films, including Niyah and the Multiverse, One Step Beyond: A Journey to Mars, Supermassive Black Holes!, CAPCOM GO! and The Great Solar System Adventure

Plus, little stargazers can join Ted’s Space Adventure on 31 October and 1 November. 🧸🚀

www.jodrellbank.net/events/october-half-term-at-jodrell-bank/

✨ Jodrell is hiring!Do you have a talent for working with people, staying organised and creating rewarding experiences?W...
20/10/2026

✨ Jodrell is hiring!

Do you have a talent for working with people, staying organised and creating rewarding experiences?

We're looking for a Volunteer Coordinator to develop and support our fantastic community of volunteers at Jodrell Bank.

From recruitment and training to events, visitor welcome and work experience, you'll help make sure our volunteers feel valued, informed and part of the Jodrell Bank team.

Find out more and apply www.jodrellbank.net/about/opportunities/ 🚀

📅 Applications close 29 October 2026.

Please note this is a part-time role (17.5 hours per week) and Jodrell Bank is rurally located, so access to personal transport is essential.

📅 Planning to visit us on Wednesday 4 November? Please note that we’ll be closing a little earlier than usual at 2.30pm ...
19/10/2026

📅 Planning to visit us on Wednesday 4 November? Please note that we’ll be closing a little earlier than usual at 2.30pm for staff training.

Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to welcoming you! 😊

📸 Andrew Brooks Photography

✨ A cosmic Christmas awaits at Jodrell Bank! 🎄This festive season, step into a winter wonderland with an astronomical tw...
14/10/2026

✨ A cosmic Christmas awaits at Jodrell Bank! 🎄

This festive season, step into a winter wonderland with an astronomical twist...

🎅 Fly through the Christmas Eve sky in What Santa Sees
🪨 Discover puppetry, music and ancient magic with Goofus Theatre's Stars and Stones
🎶 Experience the enchanting sounds of Celtic Christmas Strings inside the Space Dome

Plus, enjoy frosty winter walks, festive treats, Telescope Talks, exhibitions and a Gift Shop packed with cosmic Christmas goodies. 🌟

Festive fun runs from 14 November to 30 December 2026.

🎟️ Booking is now open: www.jodrellbank.net/events/festive-fun-at-jodrell-bank/

📸 In September, we put out a call asking people to share their photographs of Jodrell Bank. One response led to an extra...
12/10/2026

📸 In September, we put out a call asking people to share their photographs of Jodrell Bank. One response led to an extraordinary discovery: a treasure trove of images taken by William "Bill" Young during his time at the Observatory between 1958 and 1961.

Shared by his son Wayne, these remarkable photographs offer a fascinating glimpse into Jodrell Bank's early days and its role in the pioneering years of space exploration.

Read Wayne's story and explore the full collection of historic images: https://ow.ly/45OL50ZWLKI 🔭✨

Credit: William/Wayne Young

🛰️ On this day 69 years ago, Jodrell Bank made history by becoming the first facility in the West to successfully detect...
11/10/2026

🛰️ On this day 69 years ago, Jodrell Bank made history by becoming the first facility in the West to successfully detect signals from the rocket that launched Sputnik 1.

📡 Improvising with remarkable ingenuity, Bernard Lovell's team adapted the telescope with radar equipment capable of tracking the rocket. Their breakthrough came on 11 October 1957, when they picked up its distinctive signals as it passed over northern England.

🌟 The achievement was celebrated as a major triumph for British science and helped transform public perception of Jodrell Bank at a time when the project was facing criticism over delays and rising costs. The success even earned Lovell a telegram of thanks from the Soviet Union.

🚀 Today, visitors can see models of both Sputnik and its launch rocket in our award-winning First Light Pavilion. Why not discover this remarkable story for yourself this October half term? ✨

A rainy day at Jodrell Bank has its perks ☔✨When the puddles line up just right, the Lovell Telescope puts on a whole ne...
10/10/2026

A rainy day at Jodrell Bank has its perks ☔✨

When the puddles line up just right, the Lovell Telescope puts on a whole new show. Which reflection is your favourite? 👇

📸 Image credit: Jon Dixon

🌌 They're back!Following a sell-out performance in September, UNE return to Jodrell Bank on 12 November for another unfo...
07/10/2026

🌌 They're back!

Following a sell-out performance in September, UNE return to Jodrell Bank on 12 November for another unforgettable night inside the Space Dome.

Experience Dark Side of the UNE performed live with stunning full-dome visuals, an exclusive in-conversation with Mark Radcliffe and Prof Tim O'Brien, and an immersive journey through the cosmos.

Only 100 tickets available. Book now before they disappear into the dark side. ✨

www.jodrellbank.net/events/journey-to-the-dark-side-of-the-une/

🚀 begins today!Marking the anniversary of Sputnik 1's launch on 4 October 1957 and the start of the Space Age. That mo...
04/10/2026

🚀 begins today!

Marking the anniversary of Sputnik 1's launch on 4 October 1957 and the start of the Space Age. That moment is woven into Jodrell Bank's story. The Lovell Telescope played a key role in tracking Sputnik, helping establish the Observatory's place at the forefront of space science.

This year's theme, Rocket Revolution, celebrates how access to space continues to evolve. From tracking humanity's earliest ventures beyond Earth to exploring the future of sustainable satellites through our exhibitions and collaborations with The University of Manchester researchers, Jodrell Bank remains connected to the past, present and future of space exploration.

Want to learn more about Sputnik and Jodrell Bank's role in the dawn of the Space Age? Discover the story in our Story of Jodrell Bank exhibition inside the First Light Pavilion. 🌍✨

Have you visited the exhibition yet?

Address

Jodrell Bank Observatory
Macclesfield
SK119DL

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+441477571766

Website

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