Dundee Culture founder Andrew Batchelor writes for Orbital Today about the resurgence of Mills Observatory

Crowds gathered and queues were formed at the observatory in February for the planet parade. (Picture: Johanna Achkasov)

Mills Observatory – the UK’s first purpose-built public observatory – is undergoing a powerful resurgence, with renewed public interest, local engagement, and a fresh sense of purpose. This inspiring revival is the focus of a new feature written by Dundee Culture founder Andrew Batchelor for UK-based space publication Orbital Today.

Titled “We Aligned The Stars: How Mills Observatory Was Saved and Sparked a Dundee Resurgence”, the article charts the remarkable resurgence of Mills Observatory in the past year. Once at risk of being closed, Mills is now being rediscovered by old and new generations of visitors and stargazers alike.

In the feature, Andrew explored how this turnaround came to be – from the observatory's historic legacy to the people working behind the scenes to reignite public interest which helped save the nearing 90-year old observatory from closure.

The article was warmly received by the publication’s editorial team.

Editor-in-Chief of Orbital Today, James Hydzik wrote:

“The author’s title regarding Mills Observatory was less self-congratulatory, with a simple, ‘The Stars Aligned’. Frankly, Andrew Batchelor, founder at Dundee Culture, and the team at Mills Observatory moved Heaven and Earth to bring the observatory back into the public consciousness. Take a bow, one and all!”

Through both Dundee Culture and now this national feature, Andrew hopes to help more people rediscover the importance and potential of Mills Observatory – not just as a historic site, but as a living, breathing gateway to science, space, and community engagement.