 In 1978, ASTRA saved Airdrie Public Observatory, atop Airdrie Public Library, from being demolished – the previous curators had not taken great care of the observatory and it had suffered damage in a storm.ASTRA offered to repair the telescope and drive if the Monklands District Council would repair the dome.This was done  and ASTRA continued to run the observatory, on behalf of North Lanarkshire Council, until 2008.