Mills Observatory has reopened for the season and have formed a partnership with Dundee Culture! With today marking its 89th anniversary, Dundee Culture looks at ten cool facts you should know about this beloved institution.

The observatory is named after John Mills

You might be wondering where the name originated. Some may think it was inspired by the city’s jute trade, but in fact, it’s named after John Mills, a Dundonian entrepreneur and amateur astronomer who was a linen and twine manufacturer in the city.

John had his own man-made observatory on the slopes of Dundee Law, near where Adelaide Place stands today. An old print exists showing the ruins of the building, minus its dome.

It was going to be built on the Dundee Law

Since 1935, Mills Observatory has called Balgay Hill its home, but did you know it was initially meant to be built on Dundee Law? However, due to the Great War, a war memorial was erected at the summit of Dundee Law in May 1925, replacing the observatory plans.

It took 20 years for it to come to fruition - and was almost scrapped

Though the observatory opened in 1935, plans for it dated back 20 years. After receiving a bequest from John Mills, the town council was unsure how to use the funds, ultimately passing them to University College.

Following an unfavourable feasibility study, the university declined the project, and a trust was established to build an observatory on Dundee Law. However, the outbreak of war delayed these plans.

During the Great Depression, the observatory plans were revisited as a solution for the city’s struggling construction industry. Professor Ralph Sampson was brought in as a consultant and suggested Balgay Hill as an ideal location – and the rest is history!

The planning stages saw a redraw of the observatory

During planning, the observatory’s design was modernised. Professor Sampson collaborated with city architect James MacLellan Brown to create a structure from sandstone quarried locally at Leoch, near Rosemill.

The dome is made up of papier-mâché

The seven-metre dome, built by Grubb Parsons, is the only one of its kind still in place today, having been restored with waterproofing materials on at least two occasions.

It is the oldest purpose-built public observatory in the UK

Opening on 28 October 1935, Mills Observatory is the UK’s first purpose-built public observatory and remains its only full-time observatory.

It's oldest telescope dates back to the 1870s

The observatory’s centrepiece is its 10-inch Cooke refractor telescope. Originally built in 1871, it was renowned for its quality and has been in the hands of celebrated astronomers over the years.

The Apollo 11 landing was a record breaker

The Apollo moon landing in July 1969 remains the observatory's busiest day, with crowds gathering to watch Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s historic landing. Apollo 15 astronaut David Scott later visited the observatory in 2005.

Patrick Moore opened new facilities at the observatory

Dr. Patrick Moore officially inaugurated the observatory’s upgraded facilities, joined by the Lord Provost, civic officials, Curator of Museums Adam Ritchie, museum staff, and special guests.

Dr. Moore predicted that Mills Observatory would continue to make a significant contribution to amateur astronomy in Britain, encouraging others to pursue the field professionally.

Over 1,000 have visited the observatory since reopening this month

Since reopening at the start of the month, Mills Observatory has attracted over 1,000 visitors, boosted by social media promotion, with Dundee Culture playing a key role in its publicity.

Visit Mills Observatory from Monday to Friday from 4-10pm, and Saturday 6.30-10pm! Find out everything you need to know here.