The Knockin Telescope

The chain of seven radio-astronomy dishes across England, including Knockin, make up the existing Merlin network (Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network). Signals from the seven dishes are combined to create a clearer picture of the universe. The seven telescopes which make up the array are sited at Knockin, Defford, Pickmere, Darnhall and Cambridge, together with the Lovell telescope (third largest of its kind in the world) and Jodrell Bank's smaller Mark II telescope.

Knockin is a 'robotic' site. The telescope is remotely controlled from Jodrell Bank. It's visited once a week by engineers who carry out routine maintenance work. The telescope was built in 1976, sending back the first data a year later, and was part of the phase one development of Merlin. The Cambridge dish was the last to be added to the network in 1991.