Bid in for observatory with Queen guitarist link

The Norman Lockyer Observatory Society says it has made an expression of interest to East Devon District Council

A group that oversees an observatory in Devon whose patron is Queen guitarist Sir Brian May has said it wants to take ownership of its buildings.

The Norman Lockyer Observatory Society has made an expression of interest to East Devon District Council, which owns the historic properties.

If the council gives the go-ahead, the society said it would then submit a business plan.

It said the observatory contained several historic and modern telescopes, along with a planetarium, radio astronomy equipment and displays of astronomical information.

'Thriving community'

Sir Brian is its patron of the society and took over in 2012 after Sir Patrick Moore died.

Chair of the group David Strange said the observatory was a "thriving community of amateur astronomers, amounting to 300 members who promote public awareness in science and astronomy, in particular with public open evenings for viewing the night sky".

The group said the society's namesake, Norman Lockyer, became the first professor in the world of astronomical physics in 1885 at the Royal College of Science, now part of Imperial College, London.

Among his achievements, Lockyer identified helium in the sun's spectrum and was the founding editor of Nature magazine, the group said.

Retiring to Salcombe Regis, he established the observatory on the cliffs overlooking Lyme Bay.

It was originally known as the Hill Observatory until being renamed after Lockyer's death in 1920, the group added.