New Astronomy mural!

The Rumble Museum has a brand new new astronomy mural in Ford Corridor, inspired by the work of the Radcliffe Observatory at Green Templeton College in Oxford.

The Radcliffe Observatory Project was chosen as one of twenty-seven small museums across the UK to be awarded funding by the Royal Society in the latest round of its Places of Science scheme to engage communities with their local science stories. The project explores, celebrates and builds on the legacy of the Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford. It engages young people in the ancient scientific and architectural antecedents of this building through their own research projects. It will also look ahead to the future, by involving school students in measuring the thermal landscapes of their school buildings, and working with experts to explore designs to climate-proof the buildings. 

The project began with Year Nine students visiting the History of Science Museum and the Radcliffe Observatory to find out more about the role of observatories, and to explore some of the astronomical equipment which belonged to the Radcliffe Observatory. They found out about the founding of the Radcliffe Observatory, and the instrument maker John Bird who created its giant quadrant, now housed at the History of Science Museum, and were able to experiment by looking through telescopes too. 

The mural incorporated design ideas from the students, and features Atlas and Heracles holding a globe, as featured on the top of the Radcliffe Observatory. There is also a drawing of the building itself, with the constellations which can be seen above Cheney School at night. Helios, the Greek sun god is featured, departing the night sky, and a whirlpool galaxy too.

The mural was painted by artist Luke McDonnell and will be open to the public for the first time as part of a mystery artefact trail on 14th November.