Flamsteed

The observatory was founded by Charles II in 1676 with Flamsteed House, named after the first Astronomer Royal John Flamsteed, thought to be the work of Sir Christopher Wren.

The Queen visited the restored Flamsteed House, the oldest building of the old Royal Observatory, in 1960.

In 1675, the undergraduate Edmond Halley began a correspondence with Flamsteed, initially writing to describe some of his own observations which disagreed with some published tables of astronomical data, suggesting the tables were inaccurate, and asking Flamsteed if he could confirm Halley’s results.

This was music to Flamsteed’s ears, since it confirmed that modern observing techniques could improve on existing stellar catalogues.

The two became friends, and Halley was something of Flamsteed’s protégé for a time—although, as we shall see, they later fell out.