Hi Martin. Thanks for uploading Frank Akfield's video. As a young lad of 12 looking at a sunspot with my 60mm Prinz refractor during solar cycle 20 I was invited to Frank's Observatory in Forest hall. After cycling the few miles to his house on my Raleigh Hustler bike he gave me a tour and a print of the sunspot I had observed. Lovely chap who inspired my life long interest in astronomy. The print is still in my study and I have shown it to recent members of Newcastle Astronomical Society during talks on solar observation. Will be sharing the video with the rest of the society. Once again many thanks. It brought back some happy memories for me. Tom Moran.
That 10-inch F/9 reflector would be wonderful for looking at planets. But astrophotography in those days was a real challenge. Those guys were had incredible determination.
Indeed Gary. This is one of my favourites too. If only more amateur observatory progs from that era had survived. Patrick's visits to John Glasby and Frank Hyde's observatories for example.
Wonderful stuff. Patrick presented me with a prize of £1000 from Astro Systems in @ 1991 in Edinburgh when he was at the book festival. Still have a couple of pics with him signing my Astronomy Now magazine.
Well done Martin. This was such an amazing experience to watch. Every piece of advice they gave still holds true today. How many television programs from 1970 can claim that?
My Uncle Frank!!! I knew his wife, my aunt Aurea better but I remember going to their house when I was about 10 and being shown the observatory and the telescope. I'm afraid I was very underwhelmed!!
If I'd had an Uncle with an observatory and a telescope like that when I was 10 I'd have run away from home and moved in with my Uncle and Aunt. That would have been a dream come true for me!!
Great old program. I’m steadily working my way through all the old sky at nights on your channel Martin. Thanks for transporting me back in time. One question, who’s the smurf that appears at 7.38 on the left of the screen I wonder? 🙂
What has become of the observatory and telescope since 1970. In those days this would have been a major investment. Today a 10 inch reflector is not even a very big investment.
No-one seems to know, apart from the fact the observatory was dismantled soon after Frank's death in 1975. Mind you, I see that one comment on this page is from his niece. Maybe she knows?
Hello Ian, I was contacted by someone who had read my Patrick Moore biographies, Marcus Brain. He had a dozen old Sky at Nights, some recorded on an ancient Betamax machine, some from BBC archives. This 1970 colour episode is a rare one. Almost all programmes of the 1970s were wiped or, being live, never recorded anyway! Of course, some outside broadcasts were still recorded on film, so this one survived. If only there were a few more like this. Maybe there are, deep in the BBC somewhere...waiting to be discovered??
A great piece of BBC history . RIP Frank Acfield, RIP Patrick Moore , true British gentlemen.
Hi Martin. Thanks for uploading Frank Akfield's video. As a young lad of 12 looking at a sunspot with my 60mm Prinz refractor during solar cycle 20 I was invited to Frank's Observatory in Forest hall. After cycling the few miles to his house on my Raleigh Hustler bike he gave me a tour and a print of the sunspot I had observed. Lovely chap who inspired my life long interest in astronomy. The print is still in my study and I have shown it to recent members of Newcastle Astronomical Society during talks on solar observation. Will be sharing the video with the rest of the society. Once again many thanks. It brought back some happy memories for me. Tom Moran.
Thanks Tom. Great memories
That 10-inch F/9 reflector would be wonderful for looking at planets. But astrophotography in those days was a real challenge. Those guys were had incredible determination.
Not many of these fellas left. Took a lot of dedication back in the day. . .
Awesome piece of film Wonderful!!!! (aveman was here....
What I would give to see astronomy evolve during this era. Great men pioneered the way to what we have today.
Cracking stuff Martin - as usual. I could watch these old SaN video's all day.
Indeed Gary. This is one of my favourites too. If only more amateur observatory progs from that era had survived. Patrick's visits to John Glasby and Frank Hyde's observatories for example.
Absolutely fantastic episode, very unique and enjoyable. Thanks for sharing
God, what a simply wonderful episode!!!!
Blimey! Amazing to think this was filmed about 2 weeks before I was born!
Thanks martin, frank is a salt of the earth gentleman and nice to listen to
Wonderful stuff. Patrick presented me with a prize of £1000 from Astro Systems in @ 1991 in Edinburgh when he was at the book festival. Still have a couple of pics with him signing my Astronomy Now magazine.
Fantastic
What a nice set-up. I hope it's still in use.
Well done Martin. This was such an amazing experience to watch. Every piece of advice they gave still holds true today. How many television programs from 1970 can claim that?
Thank you for uploading this piece of history.
One miserable thumbs down...most be a flat earther...
A great watch.
My Uncle Frank!!! I knew his wife, my aunt Aurea better but I remember going to their house when I was about 10 and being shown the observatory and the telescope. I'm afraid I was very underwhelmed!!
If I'd had an Uncle with an observatory and a telescope like that when I was 10 I'd have run away from home and moved in with my Uncle and Aunt. That would have been a dream come true for me!!
Good!!
That was a United double decker bus that went past the bottom of his garden!I expect incoming or outgoing from/to rural Northumberland.
I wonder where those telescopes are now? And the dome?
Great old program. I’m steadily working my way through all the old sky at nights on your channel Martin. Thanks for transporting me back in time. One question, who’s the smurf that appears at 7.38 on the left of the screen I wonder? 🙂
Thanks Mike. Well spotted at 7:38! One of the film crew perhaps? Maybe the sound recordist John Bird? Or maybe just one of Frank's friends?
What has become of the observatory and telescope since 1970. In those days this would have been a major investment. Today a 10 inch reflector is not even a very big investment.
No-one seems to know, apart from the fact the observatory was dismantled soon after Frank's death in 1975. Mind you, I see that one comment on this page is from his niece. Maybe she knows?
The ending music was similar to the movie: 2001 Space Odyssey.
wow how did you get the recording martin
Hello Ian, I was contacted by someone who had read my Patrick Moore biographies, Marcus Brain. He had a dozen old Sky at Nights, some recorded on an ancient Betamax machine, some from BBC archives. This 1970 colour episode is a rare one. Almost all programmes of the 1970s were wiped or, being live, never recorded anyway! Of course, some outside broadcasts were still recorded on film, so this one survived. If only there were a few more like this. Maybe there are, deep in the BBC somewhere...waiting to be discovered??
Brilliant.