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 The 25 metre (82') steerable antenna installation at the Chilbolton Observatory. | |
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| Location | Chilbolton,Test Valley,Hampshire,South East England, England |
| Coordinates | 51°08′40″N1°26′19″W / 51.14456°N 1.43858°W /51.14456; -1.43858 |
| Website | www |
| Telescopes |
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  Location of Chilbolton Observatory | |
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 Related media on Commons | |
TheChilbolton Observatory is a facility for atmospheric and radio research located on the edge of the village ofChilbolton nearStockbridge inHampshire, England. The facilities are run by theSTFC Radio Communications Research Unit of theRutherford Appleton Laboratory and form part of theScience and Technology Facilities Council.
The Chilbolton Observatory operates many pieces of research equipment associated withradar propagation andmeteorology. As of 2007[update], these include:[1]
The observatory also hosts the UK'sLOFAR station.
Construction of Chilbolton Observatory started in 1963. It was built partially on the site ofRAF Chilbolton, which was decommissioned in 1946. Several sites around the south-east of England were considered for the construction. The site at Chilbolton, on the edge ofSalisbury Plain, was chosen in part because of excellent visibility of the horizon and its relative remoteness from major roads whose cars could cause interference.
The facility was opened in April 1967. Within several months of being commissioned theazimuth bearing of the antenna suffered a catastrophic failure.GEC were contracted to repair the bearing and devised a system to replace the failed part while leaving the 400tonne dish ostensibly in-place.
Originally, the antenna was engaged inKu bandradio astronomy, but now operates as a S and L band radar.