Sir Bernard Lovell, Jodrell Bank Observatory founder, dies aged 98
The celebrated physicist and radio astronomer Sir Bernard Lovell has died at the age of 98, the University of Manchester has announced.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/aug/07/jodrell-bank-observatory-bernard-lovell-dies
Jodrell Bank is dominated by the 76-metre (250ft) Lovell telescope, conceived by the astronomer.
Lovell began working with the engineer Sir Charles Husband to build the telescope in 1945 and it has since become a symbol of British science and engineering and a landmark in the Cheshire countryside.
A hugely ambitious project at the time, the telescope was the world's largest when it was completed in 1957 and within days tracked the rocket that carried Sputnik 1 into orbit, marking the dawn of the space age.
It is still the third largest steerable telescope in the world and a series of upgrades means it is now more capable than ever, observing phenomena undreamed of when it was first conceived. The telescope plays a key role in world-leading research on pulsars, testing our understanding of extreme physics including Einstein's general theory of relativity.
Last year, Jodrell Bank Observatory was placed on the British government's shortlist for World Heritage Site status, recognising its important role in research and education.
Originally Posted by G4SKO
