These records summarise work associated with solar observatories from 1834-1974. 1834 initiated 100 years of charts and graphs on solar activity indices (1834-1944) to be seen in the collection (file 93), notes on the solar axis (file 145) by H.W. Newton.

From 1930-1963 a large collection of solar flare literature, reprints from many international sources were collected together (file 166- ). Diaries of the Solar Department for 1955, together with the Astronomer Royal's (H. Spencer-Jones) official diary for 1944 are included with the solar records.

In the ten years from 1947-57 solar work was extensive. John Evershed donated his solar instruments to the RGO (1955) and the move of the Solar Department took place from Abinger during this period, a report of which (file 111) is available on the improvement of the Solar Department as a result. During this period also the problems of dust in the solar domes and the spectroheliographic cellar was tackled.

Solar phenomena of all kinds were observed, with the improvements of the development of the West Building and the new spectrograph. Work on magnetic disturbances and experiments from Abinger on specific fields carried out and recordings taken. Large amounts of data was then generated on magnetic storm phenomena with a few photographs of flares, prominences and giant sunspots.

In 1952 (file 125) Radio Age magazine published an article featuring 'Magnetic storms directly related to the position of the planets' by John H. Nelson of RCA Communications after five years work from his rooftop observing New York City. He gave five predictable planetary positions - illustrated - which he posed would enable long term weather changes to the predicted. The Observatory is also fully illustrated in the article.

In 1953 Martin Ryle wrote a science review for the Times of 'Radio stars' (file 143).

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s solar geophysical data was enhanced by the Space Disturbance Forecast Centre, Colorado, United States (files 127-142), with the Fraunhoffer Institute maps also increasing efficiency of data gathering during this period.

C. A. Murray's collection includes a print from an original 1860 lunar photograph, instrument etc. (file 191) and a register of solar photographs is included in the section 1958-67 (file 199) from the Royal Observatory of the Cape of Good Hope.