Scotland in the nineteenth century

16. Appendix: Annual reports

Section 16.5. Science

Royal Observatory (Edinburgh). Annual reports of the Astronomer Royal for Scotland.

By 1891, the Royal Observatory on Calton Hill in Edinburgh had become almost inoperative due to the lack of good instruments and the "smoke-laden character of the air in that locality". Blackford Hill was, therefore, chosen as the site for a new observatory. The new observatory was opened on 7th April, 1896. Progress reports on its construction, together with information on the observations, time signals, recent discoveries, publications, expeditions abroad and the classes in astronomy conducted at Edinburgh University were included in subsequent reports of the Astronomer Royal for Scotland.