Access to Coats Observatory

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Coats Observatory welcomes all visitors.

As the building is listed there are restrictions on modifications which can be made to the building, both internally and externally. Level access to the Observatory foyer is available via Oakshaw Street. The rest of the building is accessible only using stairs and is unsuitable for visitors with mobility problems.

We are hoping to introduce, in the near future, a virtual tour of the building accessible using a PC, and to install equipment to allow us to transmit telescope images from the dome to the ground floor.

On Thursday nights during the winter months the observatory is open for telescope viewings of the night sky. There are now telescopes located in the Observatory Garden to allow visitors unable to access the dome the experience of telescope observation first hand.

We hope that everyone enjoys their visit to Coats Observatory. We appreciate that we may not always get it right and would welcome your suggestions regarding our accessibility or any other aspect of your visit.

You can contact us in the following ways:

• email museums.els@renfrewshire.gov.uk or
• phone 0141 889 2013 or
• fax 0141 889 9240 or
• write or call in person to Coats Observatory,49 Oakshaw Street West, Paisley, PA1 2DE