OBSERVATORY FOR CORNWALL
Registered Charity No. 1083195

Press release

On Thursday 21 February 2002 at 18 Lemon Street, 7.30pm members of the Observatory for Cornwall will sign a new 99-year lease on land at Wheal Busy. The land will be used to build an astronomical observatory and planning approval has already been obtained.

This is a major milestone for a group of 60 keen astronomers that include people who interest is pure fascination to those with a great deal of scientific knowledge.

At the same time the observatory group are launching their 'Young Astronomer of the Year' award, which is open to all children attending a school located in Cornwall. There are two age groups: those in year group 6 and below, and those in year groups 7 to 11. Entry is via the recently launched website which can be found at www.observatoryforcornwall.co.uk

Ends

Further information:

· Colin Stewart - 01872 863591 (Office hours) - Please note that Mr Stewart will be away from Wednesday 20 Feb to Thursday 28 Feb inclusive.
· Dr Murty Malla - 01872 862075 (evenings)
· www.observatoryforcornwall.co.uk

Background Notes

At the time of the Eclipse a group of Astronomy enthusiasts got together and decided to build an astronomical observatory.
The group meets on a monthly basis and many speakers have delivered a variety of interesting lectures.
A piece of land at Wheal Busy was identified as a possible site for the observatory and a 99-year lease has been agreed. The lease will be signed at the observatory meeting on 21 February 2002 at 18 Lemon Street, 7.30 pm.
Designs for a building and domes have already been submitted and Carrick District Council has granted planning approval.
Considerable effort has been undertaken to obtain grant funding from many organisations including Objective One. Despite the appeal of the project it fails to meet the current funding criterion that the grant makers are looking for.
The stream of rejection letters has not deterred the members of the Observatory; indeed it has only served to strengthen their resolve that the project will happen one way or another.
It was suggested, and unanimously agreed, that the members undertake the work themselves and appeal to local people and businesses to donate materials to the project, a sort of DIY 'Challenge Anneka'.
The project will obviously take more time to complete, but for this year we have set ourselves the target of completing the works required to the long access lane and to build the first viewing platform. If all goes well we should complete the first observatory dome.