Norman Lockyer was a Victorian amateur astronomer, who discovered the element Helium in the Sun’s corona in 1868 and was one of the founders of the science journal Nature in 1869. He became the director of the Solar Physics Observatory at South Kensington and the first professor of astronomical physics in the Normal School of Science (now the Royal College of Science) in 1887. He was knighted in 1897.

After his retirement to Sidmouth, Lockyer obtained support in 1912 for the building of the Hill Observatory, renamed the Norman Lockyer Observatory following his death in 1920.

Rainbow57uk

March 10, 2019

Road cycling

Established by Norman Lockyer the astronomer who discovered Helium. The telescope he used to observe the Sun is now housed here.

Natalie

June 29, 2022

Road cycling

The Norman Lockyer Observatory is regularly open to the public as a centre for 'amateur astronomy, meteorology, radio astronomy, and the promotion of science education'. Check their website for opening times.

The Observatory was originally called the Hill Observatory but was renamed after Lockyer's death in 1920. He discovered Helium in the Sun's corona in 1868 and gained support for the building of this observatory after his retirement in 1912.

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1. Beer & Ottery St Mary loop from Sidmouth — East Devon

49.2km

02:47

800m

Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

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2. Sidmouth Esplanade – View of Sidmouth loop from Polsloe Bridge

57.7km

03:02

850m

Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

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3. View of Sidmouth – Sidmouth Esplanade loop from Budleigh Salterton

49.7km

02:39

890m

Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

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Elevation 170 m

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Thursday 12 February

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7°C

35 %

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Max wind speed: 32.0 km/h

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Location: Sidmouth, East Devon, Devon, South West England, England, United Kingdom

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Norman Lockyer Observatory

1. Beer & Ottery St Mary loop from Sidmouth — East Devon

2. Sidmouth Esplanade – View of Sidmouth loop from Polsloe Bridge

3. View of Sidmouth – Sidmouth Esplanade loop from Budleigh Salterton

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