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 turned the telescope towards the Lagoon Nebula (M8) after finding I needed to tweak the telescope. This nebula is a fairly bright and a good target for those branching out in astrophotography.
Comet 3IAtlas will be excited to image later this year (still too faint for my scope, I tried!). It will likely remain too faint to be seen without a telescope. I will though post some information in the coming months.
August tour dates will be posted as soon as I know my schedule. I haven't had many free nights of late I admit! ... See MoreSee Less
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I haven't imaged the Moon close up for a while so managed a few quick snaps on the evening of the 4th of July. ... See MoreSee Less
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Amazing shots. 🤩🤩
Working on the July tour dates, particularly, those for the school holidays. One issue is full moon occurs smack in the middle of school holidays!!! Tours are of course, near impossible with the bright moon wiping out much of the sky. So it looks like tours dates are pretty limited. I have two dates available;
July 15 and July 16th at 7:15 pm (booking essential)
I did have a clear weeknight recently and imaged NGC 6188. It is also known as the fighting dragons nebula! ... See MoreSee Less
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Firstly, I am sorry for delays in posting. I've had a pretty busy time with booked out tours, and a fair share of bad weather, have meant it has been difficult posting available tour dates. It does seem my first available dates will be during July (avoiding the full Moon of course). However, it has been an eventful month will Aurora and solar activity. I did squeeze in an imaging night a months ago and imaged galaxy NGC 4945! ... See MoreSee Less
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nice galaxy
A few images from the auroral storm on the 1st of June from the observatory. (before some high cloud moved in). ... See MoreSee Less
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Wow. How much was visible to the naked eye?
Incredible
My goodness. Great shots.
Beautiful.
Hi again, Great photos of the Aurora 👏 I'm back again with a new fb account.
Awesome pictures Niall!
Phil Wilson what we missed 🤣
Amazing images
Catherine Anne
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June 1st. There is a high probability of an Aurora storm in the late hours of the 1st to near dawn of the 2nd. You need a dark sky away from town lights and a clear view to the south. There is some error in the arrival time of the solar particles which cause the Aurora so I guess it is patiently wait and see!!! It is likely to be seen southwards of a line roughly from Newcastle to Perth, but perhaps a bit northward of that. Edit it has hit early so Aurora from sunset. But note the cloud coming on the satellite images. ... See MoreSee Less
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Rob Hogarth
I managed to sneak in an image of the Moon on the 9th of May. The telescope that was used is now around 40 years old and one of many at the observatory. ... See MoreSee Less
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Absolutely brilliant
Watch THIS Space May 25
The Sun showing large sunspot group AR4079 on the morning of the 4th of May. I haven’t imaged the sun for a while! Yes, you DO need a special telescope to image the sun safely!
It is a very difficult month to fit in tours for me. A lot of family events on weekends including my birthday (I do wish I had an assistant sometimes). I am actually not sure if June will be the first tours I will manage. I am very sorry about that!
But that will not stop May being a good month for stargazers. The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks around the morning of the 6th of May. It is active a few nights either side, so don’t worry if you miss the 6th. You need nothing to view them other than your eyes. However, you need to be out from 2am until dawn to see them. The meteors come from a point towards the eastern sky.
Comet F2 Swan, broke up, so will not be a highlight anymore in mid May. I do like looking for aurora this time of year, and the sun has been very active as seen in the image of the Sun on the 4th May. Also a great time of year to view those star clusters and nebula around the Southern Cross as well. ... See MoreSee Less
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Hi. Is the 23/5 available?
Watch THIS Space April 25
Another month has passed and with Daylight Savings ending, we can do tours and imaging at more reasonable times. This time of year is wonderful for seeing things in the Southern skies, particularly nebula and star clusters around the Southern Cross region. One of those is highlighted in the image this month is the Eta Carina Nebula. However there are other great things very nearby like the Jewel box cluster and Omega Centauri. We have Full Moon near on the 13th, which means no tours over that weekend (moon too bright) but at least the moon will have passed by Easter.
There will be some extra tours over the school holidays, but note, no tours Easter Sunday. Tour dates are as follows. April 18th to 24th (except Easter Sunday) at 7:45pm. Bookings Essential via message or email. Remember as well, we still offer special astrophotography beginner classes if you want to book one of those dates in! ... See MoreSee Less
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