Coats Observatory, Scotland

Coats Observatory is the first purpose-built public astronomical observatory in Scotland. Dating from 1883 the observatory houses two refracting telescopes, a 5-inch Cooke installed in 1883 and a 10-inch Grubb dating from 1898 as well as a wide range of late 19th century scientific apparatus for the study of astronomy, meteorology and seismology. The institution was funded by the Paisley-based Coats thread magnates and run by the Paisley Philosophical Institution until 1963 when ownership passed to the local authority, who have operated it ever since. Twice weekly public night-sky viewing sessions run throughout the winter months.

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