SHA County Co-ordinator: Mark Hurn
Email: hurnm@ast.cam.ac.uk
No of SHA Members resident in this County …7
Astronomers
Observatories
(former)
Cambridge
Christ’s College (1760-80); see Howse 1986.
Trinity College (1739-1797) (also possibly earlier in 1705 see University/D.XII.22); see Howse 1986.
Pembroke College (fl.1752)
Gonville and Caius College (fl. 1764)
St. Johns College (1765-1832)
Cambridge: Madingley Road site
The Solar Physics Observatory (SPO) 1913-1946
The Royal Greenwich Observatory (RGO) had its administrative headquarters and workshops in Cambridge (1990-1998).
Ely
Canon Selwyn’s solar observatory (‘The College’ Ely, exact location not known) active 1863-74
(active)
Institute of Astronomy (the Cambridge Observatory est.1823)
Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HA (Tel. 01223 37548)
(see Howse 1986)
The Mullard Radio Astronomy ObservatoryThe Ryle Telescope (RT).
The Cosmic Anisotropy Telescope (CAT).
The Cambridge Low-Frequency Synthesis Telescope (CLFST).
The Very Small Array (VSA).
Astronomy Groups
Cambridge Astronomical Association (CAA), Founded in 1959 for people with an interest in astronomy in and around the Cambridge area. Monthly meetings are held at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge.
Cambridge University Astronomical Society (CUAS), founded in 1942, they are a group of students and members of the university from many different backgrounds who share an interest in all topics related to astronomy.
Papworth Astronomy Club (PaAS), founded 1990 as part of the “Individual Development Programme” run by the Papworth Trust. Monthly meetings in Papworth Everard at the Vinter Room, Vinter Close.
St. Neots Astronomy Association (SNAA), founded (?). Members meet monthly at the Visitor Centre, Little Paxton Pits Nature Reserve
Sawtry Astronomical Society (SaAS), formerly Sawtry and District Astronomical Society -appears to be defunct.
Authors, Lecturers, broadcasters
Arthur Berry O.B.E. (1862?-1929) Vice-Provost of King’s College, Cambridge, FRAS and author of ‘A Short History of Astronomy’ (1898). ‘Obituary’, MNRAS, 90 (1930), p. 358.
Publishers
Cambridge University Press
Museums
(Please note this section contains only museums likely to be of relevance to astronomy or science)
Fitzwilliam Museum
(A major museum and art gallery)
Whipple Museum of the History of Science
(Based on the collection of Robert Stewart Whipple (1871-1953) a collection of scientific instruments including telescopes and astrolabes)
Telescope / equipment manufacturers
Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company
(founded by Horace Darwin in 1881)
Useful addresses
Institute of Astronomy Library
Madingley Road
Cambridge
CB3 0HA
Tel. 01223 337537
http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/library/
Sources
Cambridgeshire Association for Local History (CALH)
Secretary: Mr Andrew Westwood-Bate (info@calh.org.uk)
PO Box 1112
Blasham, Cambridge
CB21 4WP
Cambridgeshire Family History Society
http://www.cfhs.org.uk
County Record Office
Cambridgeshire County Record Office, Cambridge
Shire Hall
Cambridge
CB3 0AP
Tel 01223 717281
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk
For full details go to ARCHON Directory
