Bristol Astronomy
Club
Once a useable telescope had been constructed, Dr. Burke began inviting the public to come to the College on clear nights to look through it.
In 1957, a bright comet, Arrend-Roland, appeared in the skies over Bristol and a great many people came out to King in order to view it.
Also in that year, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory started trying to set up a network of satellite observing stations, known as Project Moonwatch. These were to monitor the positions of the earth-orbiting satellites which were to be launched as part of the International Geophysical Year.
1950's
Astronomy began at King College in 1949 with the arrival of Dr. Edward Burke. Soon after his arrival, in 1952, two students, B. L. Harless and W. W. Roland finished the construction of a 6-inch telescope whose mirror had been ground and polished, by King faculty member A. C. Adams, prior to Burke's arrival.
King College's MOONWATCH stationtext.
How a MOONWATCH station worksxt.
Burke and the local amateur astronomers were very interested in being a part of the Smithsonian's program and in the process of setting up the Moonwatch station, the Bristol Astronomy Club came to be born.
The history of the Bristol Astronomy Club is closely intertwined with the history of the astronomy program at King College-- you cannot talk about one without discussing the other.
King College's first telescope on an English mount, which was not as small as it looks, weighing over 300 lbs!
King College students Bill Rolland, Howard Coffey, John Powers and Tom Degges
In addition, the King students also ground a mirror for this telescope-- both mirrors were used at times. It should be noted that no outside funds were used. Everything was constructed by student volunteers with available materials.
The first telescope was a 6-inch f/8 instrument
