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/
A lazy spiral galaxy. NGC 300 is located about 6 million light years from our own Milky Way galaxy. It is part of the Sculptor group of nearby galaxies. It is not quite as large as our own galaxy, but close in size.
At least while I've suspended tours pending the highway reopening next year, I am getting some work done in the observatory. A new updated drive controller installed yesterday. ... See MoreSee Less
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I set up my oldest telescope on the 18th. This telescope I made in the mid 1980's and was my first telescope. It is still highly capable of great images, such as the Moon! ... See MoreSee Less
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The Helix Nebula. A dying star shedding its outer layers. Still progressing with our equipment updates while our tours are suspended due to the highway closure. ... See MoreSee Less
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I got this shot last week.
Eagle Nebula. Recent image I forgot I had taken while testing the new camera! ... See MoreSee Less
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Nebula (star forming region) M17, the Swan Nebula, recently imaged with the new equipment! ... See MoreSee Less
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Comet 10/P Temple is faintly visible in binoculars between Aquarius and Fomalhaut. It is some 63million km from Earth, but still the best pass this comet has had since the 1960's. Of note in this image is the faint line marking the orbital debris shed by the comet. ... See MoreSee Less
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Something I haven't done for a while. I imaged the planet Venus in twilight on the 2nd of August. Venus is currently the very bright object in our western sky after sunset. The planet itself generally looks a bit disappointing through a telescope. As it is totally covered in clouds of carbon dioxide, you can't see any surface features. We also see it somewhat from behind, hence why it shows phases. ... See MoreSee Less
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Here is another recent image from the new wide field telescope. This is the Cat's Paw Nebula! Waiting to do more testing once the moon has past full. I am also taking this break in tours to update the technology in the observatory! Hopefully the closure of the highway isn't the full year they are saying it will be. Tours will resume once the highway reopens. ... See MoreSee Less
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From my backyard here in Sydney with a dwarf mini digital telescope. Stacked, and run through the stellar studio then through the Lightroom app.
Brendan Cubic Moncrieff
I used a clear night to image the Moon in a bit of detail on the 20th of July. ... See MoreSee Less
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