Mills Observatory just got a double spread feature in BBC’s Sky at Night magazine

The observatory was named as the best astronomical observatory in the UK by Sky at Night in 2022. (Picture: Shahbaz Majeed)

Mills Observatory has been featured in the latest issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine, with a new article telling the story of how the Dundee landmark was saved from closure and brought back to life.

The feature, titled How Mills Observatory was saved, appears in the January 2026 edition of the magazine and explores the grassroots campaign that helped protect the UK’s oldest public observatory after it was threatened with closure in 2024.

The article, written by Dundee Culture founder Andrew Batchelor, in his first magazine and looks at how public support quickly gathered pace, with thousands signing a petition and sharing memories of visiting the observatory as children.

The feature also highlights how the renewed social media and creative campaign helped reconnect people with the observatory, reminding residents that it was still a working space for discovery, learning and wonder rather than a relic of the past.

The feature noted that the 2024-25 season went on to become the most successful in Mills Observatory’s 89-year history. Planetarium shows sold out, visitor numbers rose sharply and new events were introduced under the dome.

The feature places Mills Observatory within Dundee’s wider cultural identity, reflecting on its unique position on the city’s skyline and its role in inspiring generations to look to the stars.

As the observatory approaches its 100th anniversary in 2035, the feature also looks ahead to the challenges still to come, stressing that continued public support will be key to securing its long-term future