Students build Lego Lovell Telescope to celebrate cosmic legacy

Students from The University of Manchester’s Physics Society have constructed a remarkable 30,500-piece Lego model of the iconic Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank, commemorating the observatory’s 80th anniversary.

Designed by the undergraduate Physics Society, the sculpture is based on the telescope’s original engineering blueprints, ensuring a high level of accuracy and detail. Student James Ruxton spent six months perfecting the design using computer software to model and test different structures, producing a 4,000-page instruction manual. He even custom-designed some Lego pieces, using a 3D printer to create bespoke bricks. 

James and fellow Physics Society members began building the sculpture in late April. The finished model weighs 30kg, with 12.5kg attributed to the dish alone. Due to its weight, the dish had to be reinforced with a steel pole—mirroring a real-life engineering challenge faced during the telescope’s original construction eighty years ago. 

James said:

“It’s definitely the biggest and most challenging build I’ve ever done, but also the most fun. I’ve been a big fan of Lego since I was younger, and I’ve always loved creating my own models, so recreating something as iconic as the Lovell is like taking that to the next level! It’s my favourite thing – I love doing it.” 

The sculpture serves as a tribute to the University’s pioneering role in astrophysics and engineering. It will be on permanent display in the Schuster Building, housed in a specially modified cabinet alongside a Lego model of a Large Hadron Collider detector—built by students a decade ago. 

A unique feature of the sculpture is a brick which was signed by Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell - the physicist who discovered Pulsars - during her visit to the University to deliver this year’s annual Bragg Lecture in March.  

The sculpture arrives in time to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Jodrell Bank, a site of immense significance to The University of Manchester and to science in the UK.  

Professor Chris Parkes, Head of the Physics and Astronomy department, has been supporting the students with their project.

He reflected:

“Jodrell Bank has always been a symbol of bold innovation - pushing the boundaries of science and engineering from its earliest days.  

“What the students have created with this Lego build is a perfect reflection of that spirit. It’s not just a model; it’s a celebration of Manchester’s history of discovery and a testament to the creativity, precision, and ambition that continue to define our scientific community today.” 

In December 1945, physicist Bernard Lovell travelled from Manchester to a quiet field in Cheshire hoping to explore the use of radar in cosmic ray detection. Instead, this became the start of the Physics Department's world-famous Jodrell Bank radio astronomy observatory.  

Over the following 12 years, Lovell and his team constructed the telescope that now bears his name. Its global importance was confirmed in 1957 when it became the only instrument capable of tracking the rocket carrying Sputnik 1, launched by the Soviet Union during the Space Race.  

Since then, the Lovell Telescope has stood at the forefront of astronomical research. In 2019, the Jodrell Bank Observatory was granted UNESCO World Heritage status, further cementing its legacy as a beacon of scientific innovation.