Bigger than the Dish

I left the CD of photos that match this entry behind. However thanks to Beck all is not lost and they are sailing their way to Australia. I'll add them at the end of the trip.

Thursday would be the last day that Shelley and I would do any decent drive. We headed south for about three hours to Jodrell Bank Observatory near Manchester.

The big dish at Jodrell, the Lovel telescope, is 80m, a bit bigger than Parkes and also a bit older. Like Parkes it has had many upgrades over the years so it looks a bit different. One of my Jodrell counterparts Ian showed me around the observatory explaining some of the history, both of the observatory and the visitor and communication services. It was interesting to see the similarities and differences

Over lunch I met Tim and Teresa who are also involved in the present and future of the visitors centre. It was interesting to share stories of success and frustration with those who have similiar roles.

The centre was recently demolished to make way for a new centre so it didn't take me long t have a look at the displays but I did have a great chat with the staff in the shop. I spent a good part of an hour wandering the path around the telescope and through the aboretum.

My long stay was rewarded when the telescope slewed to a new position just before departing. It was kind of funny to be the tourist hoping that the telescope would move.

Now all that was left to do was to get lost on Cheshire country roads trying to find the motorway to Regan's.