Bringing the Universe closer – from Greenwich to you

Royal Observatory Greenwich is a working observatory again - thanks to you.

In 2017, Royal Museums Greenwich supporters donated generously to enable the installation of a modern robotic telescope, the Annie Maunder Astrographic Telescope (AMAT). The overwhelming support also funded the restoration of the Altazimuth Pavilion, the historic building it lives in.

This generosity brought both astrophotography and research back to the Observatory, the latter being possible for the first time in 70 years.

The AMAT has now been used for several live streams. Over the last seven years, we have observed the surface of the Moon, looked at Mars, and collaborated with the New Crescent Society on Ramadan and Eid moonsightings.

We have also broadcasted rare events such as the partial solar eclipse in 2022, during which we welcomed our largest-ever audience, with over a million total views! 

Essential maintenance

Yet preserving and advancing this exciting work requires on-going care.

Like any major scientific instrument, AMAT faces technical challenges, and the Observatory itself must be maintained to protect its equipment. Early in 2024, a charitable donation from BAE Systems enabled essential work to be undertaken on the dome to stop water ingress into the Altazimuth Pavillion to protect the AMAT.

Repairs to the Altazimuth Pavilion enabled further observation and a refit of the AMAT to solve longstanding technical problems.

As part of National Astronomy Week, a further livestream on 5 February 2025 was our most ambitious yet.

The stream took viewers on a tour of the night sky, observing multiple objects in a single session - including one of the best views of Jupiter that we have ever captured.

During this stream we broke the Observatory’s record for the longest watch duration per person!

You can watch the broadcast here:

Feedback through YouTube and Facebook comments was overwhelmingly positive. For example, the following was posted by one of our watchers in the YouTube comment feed:

Starting back in February 2025, our astronomers have been working with universities and school groups to complete research projects with the Annie Maunder Astrographic Telescope. By staring at stars with known planets orbiting around them, we can observe the small dip in light that occurs when the planet passes directly in front of it, blocking a small fraction of its light.

This provides real scientific data which will be uploaded to the ExoClock Unlocked citizen-science project, helping in the preparation for the European Space Agency's Ariel mission, due to be launched in 2029. 

While the Annie Maunder Astrographic Telescope has had hurdles to overcome since its installation, it has enabled the Royal Observatory to increase its meaningful public engagement. 

The AMAT is integral to future observations in Greenwich, and it has a bright future in producing both astrophotography and research for Royal Museums Greenwich. 

We are so grateful that supporters, like you, have made this great work possible.

Please consider donating today, and remember that whether you are visiting the Royal Observatory or watching our live streams, it is because of your help that we can continue to elevate our public engagement programmes and inspire the next generation of astronomers.