Trent Astronomical Observatory
Interested in space and astronomy? Come and find out more about the night sky at NTU's Trent Astronomical Observatory.
Students taking part in an astronomy session.
About the Observatory
Built in 2006 and located on NTU's Clifton campus, the Trent Astronomical Observatory is a state-of-the-art astronomical facility recognised by the International Astronomical Union (Observatory Code: J06).
Equipment includes a unique 20-inch modified Newtonian, and a 14-inch Meade LX200 telescope.
The facility is used by NTU students for labs, projects and extracurricular work. It plays host to our monthly Open Dome events and is used for the NTU Work Inspiration Scheme.
The venue is also used for outreach activities involving schools and the local community, and is a learning destination for the Children's University.
Open Dome events
Join us for an evening filled with fascinating talks and presentations by our engaging speakers, delving into intriguing and sometimes surprising topics in the realm of astronomy.
Our renowned experts will enlighten you with their knowledge, providing out of this world insights that will leave you awestruck. We provide dedicated time for open discussions after the talks, allowing you to engage with our experts and ask questions about the captivating topics raised during the event.
For those seeking a more hands-on experience, our observatory can also provide the perfect opportunity to observe the night sky through powerful telescopes.
Book your place at Open Dome Event
The full range of equipment at our observatory
Optical telescopes:
- 20 inch Newise Modified Newtonian telescope – The largest telescope in the UK specifically designated for the use of students in an on-campus observatory.
- 14 inch Meade LX200 telescope – A Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope providing high image quality.
- SV-50 Solarview 50 mm – Specifically designed telescope to observe the Sun in H-alpha emission line.
Radio telescopes:
- Cassicorp 2.3 m radio telescope – A radio telescope able to observe both continuum and (21 cm neutral hydrogen) spectral line.
Instruments:
- SXV H9 / SXV H9C – Charged Coupled Devices imaging in both monochrome and coloured light.
- Littrow Spectrograph – A high resolution spectrograph that can easily resolve details in the H-alpha line.
- GRISM – A Slitless grating allowing multiple low resolution spectra to be taken.
- Filters Broad-Band / Narrow-Band – A selection of B, V, and R filters as well as narrow interference filters for OIII, NII, and H-alpha.