The Bathurst Observatory Research Facility has recently moved location. We are in the process of building the Meteorite Museum shed. The Meteorite Museum will provide a space to display our meteorite, public education and video conferences into schools.
Bathurst Observatory Research Facility, Australia, has one of the only public displays of meteorites in NSW west of Sydney in our Meteorite Museum. We have over 200 specimens to be displayed, ranging from witnessed falls to historical pieces. You will be able to come and see our display of space models, minerals, fossils and meteorites.
Approval for the stage 1 components of the project have been obtained from Bathurst Regional Council.
The funding goal is to reach $45,000 which will cover the cost of concrete slab, the cost of the shed and construction.
CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT OUR PROJECT
Plan of the Meteorite Museum shed.
Museum site pegged and ready to go.
The meteorite museum aligns with the observatory’s work on asteroid, comet and other astronomical research as well as public education and outreach.
We also study meteorites as part of our research goals, and have published a number of papers about meteorites.
We can also offer some services to meteorite collectors and researches wishing to display their specimens.
Some meteorites from the Bathurst Observatory collection
Some of our displays below.
General space image from our observatory
ABOUT US
The Observatory is currently privately owned and had operated at its old site on Limekilns Road, Bathurst since July 2000. In 2018, it was decided that the observatory should relocate to a much better site due to housing and other development at our previous site. Light pollution from developments would have rendered the old site impractical for further astronomy. As such, the old site has been sold and we have purchased a new site, further from Bathurst (at Billywillinga), which has much better observing sites, not only for tourism, but for research and professional/amateur astronomers as well. We aim to provide multiple viewing experiences rather than one off options, to encourage multiple visitation.
The observatory is only one of its type in the region and will offer experiences and tour options no similar facility will offer. Its location and night activities will ensure overnight stays within the region or at our guest cottage.
TIME FRAME
The new observatory still in the construction and planning stage though will operate from late 2019, early 2020. A key goal is planning and ensuring the new site is developed to meet identified needs. This will ensure its adaptability now and into the future. However, current Bathurst Observatory telescopes are now being relocated to the new site, as well as the meteorite research collection and much more!
Some key aspects of the initial timeline;
* Relocation of the public outreach and imaging telescope with the observatory’s iconic dome.
* Set up of the public viewing telescopes and area.
* Construction of the meteorite research building (with displays)
* Availability of sites for setting up your own equipment
* Opening of the guest accommodation and planetarium in stage 2
The Bathurst Observatory’s iconic dome, soon to relocate to the new site. It houses our research and imaging telescope
Future stage 2 items for inclusion will be approval additional cabins and telescope sites as demand increases.
Note the planetarium is a fully modern computerised system and has an advantage in that it is portable and can be taken to schools, community events, as well as serve at the observatory site. It does not require an additional building, though provides an all-weather option for tours.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more information about Bathurst Observatory Research Facility please visit our website at: https://bathurstobservatory.com.au/
and our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/BathurstObservatory/
I realised I had not imaged planets for some time. I also have been doing routine repairs in the observatory and wanted to test things. So on the evening of the 16th of December, I imaged bright Venus, in the west after sunset (showing an almost half phase), Saturn higher in the west with the rings very narrow this year, and Jupiter, still low in the east at the time. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Good to see the planets aligning 🌕🪐🌟
It is quite beautiful.
Before some media hype takes over... Yes the Geminid meteor shower occurs over this weekend. Though it is 'generally' best seen from after 1:00 am until dawn from the 14th until the 15th (best nights), this year it does coincide with an almost full moon which will greatly impact upon the number of meteors seen. Though a couple of brighter meteors might be seen, I know I will give this year a miss. ... See MoreSee Less
www.facebook.com
Send a message to learn moreComment on Facebook
was out this morning after moonset (2.50am)--- saw eight in the hour I was out there. Moon sets later tomorrow morning (approx 5am)...... so the window is only small if you don't want moonglow to ruin your chances. 🙂
Adam Rogers
Sonya Mason
Galaxy M33 (The Triangulum Galaxy) is located about 2.7 million light years away from own own galaxy. It is a bit smaller than the Milky Way galaxy but it is lovely loose spiral. Certainly one of the great things to image! ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Watch THIS Space (December 24)
In December, I generally turn eastwards to watch the constellations of summer rising after sunset. The image shows the view looking roughly NE around then. One highlight would be the Pleiades cluster, very prominent in the NE. See how many stars you can see in this tight group. A telescope or binoculars show many more! There is also the constellation of Orion and the Great Orion Nebula, located in his sword. This nebula is a great target for those getting telescopes for Christmas.
Speaking of which, there is a great article on the Sky and Telescope site on how to choose the best telescope for your needs. buff.ly/3no3M5Y
Full Moon occurs on the 15th of December. This is kind of bad timing this year, as it also is around the peak of the Geminid meteor shower. You will likely hear media stories etc of “the best meteor shower of the year”. But alas, due to the bright Moon, this year it will be pretty washed out. I know I will sleep in for it!
We do have some bright planets in the sky with Venus still prominent in the west and Saturn, getting lower in the west, but still ok, and a highlight is Jupiter rising in the east. You can see it on the skymap near Taurus.
There might also be Santa visible too in the north doing practice runs!!!!
Tours??? Yes, I will likely have a tours too in December, but haven’t yet worked out the dates, as it is a month were family and friends have a few Christmas parties and I might not be available some nights. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
The Orion nebula M42 certainly a good target on clearer nights 😍
I have been using a different imaging process for the images taken at the observatory. This is galaxy NGC 253. The galaxy is just over 11 million light years away and is a dusty spiral galaxy we see somewhat edge on. Compare this image with the one we have as our banner image! ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Watch THIS Space (November 24)
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) was certainly a highlight for October, however, this month it fades rapidly and becomes lost in evening twilight by early to mid-month (around full moon, so the brightness of the moon will not help either).
The next comet, C/2024 S1 Atlas, “might” be visible low in the morning ESE twilight in the first week of November. Notice the word MIGHT. This comet is what is known as a sungrazer. They pass very close to the sun and generally break up around this time. Indeed S1 has already shown that it may already have started to break up. IF there are pieces big enough to rapidly evaporate, there may be a tail (with no head like comet Lovejoy) visible in that first week of November. I admit, I am not holding out much hope for this comet.
Planets Saturn and Jupiter will be evening objects in November. Saturn is in the northern sky after sunset with Jupiter rising after 10pm in the east. Saturn’s rings are almost edge on this year (more so next year), but still interesting with a telescope. Venus of course is still shining very brightly in our western sky. If you have a telescope, November is also great for galaxies, highlights include the Andromeda galaxy low in the north and M33 nearby (many others too!). The Stellarium image shows the position of these two galaxies just after Full Moon.
Tours, I promised I would also update on tours. There were no tours in October due to comet commitments and I admit I also wanted to do some maintenance in and around the observatory. The middle of the year saw MANY cloudy evenings and as such, I had no tours due to cloud and also I was not able to use the telescope myself for images and just to relax with. Here I also admit a little bit of selfishness, as one of the reasons for limited tours of late is I want a chance to catch up on some imaging projects myself and need a few nights to do that. I hope people understand this, and I promise tours soon as I can. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Two images tonight the 25th of October of comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). The comet has dramatically faded in the last 24 hours and even from our dark sky site a struggle to see visually. To the eye, it appeared faint with only 3-4 degrees of tail very faintly visible. The 50mm DSLR image still shows a faint anti-tail. The telescope view though showed a bit more interest, with a ribbon of material and a broader dust tail. The comet will continue to fade more rapidly now, as it moves further away from both Earth and the sun. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
I had thought that the 24th of October might be my last images of comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). However, I could still see it with just my eyes (though much fainter), and some 5 degrees or so of tail as well, from our observatory site. Perhaps I will image it a few more nights as a result. The comet in the telescope image shows a broader tail. It is now a bit higher in the WNW and these images are from about 8:40 to 8:50pm. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
I imaged the comet again on the 21st, but have only just processed them tonight. The comet was a bit clearer and both the comet and tail visible to the eye. The wide angle image show the comet, milky way and the glow of sunset, haze and the town of Orange. The other images are with a 50mm lens and a close up with a short telescope.
Some people have been asking about the regular tours and I will post an update over the weekend in regards to what will be happening. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
what time was it?
No luck here in Wollongong sadly
I’m in Gracemere central Queensland. What time and where should I look
Very nice photos 👍 seeing looks a lot better than here at Cudal, smokey here last night.
Paul Aitken
View more comments