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/
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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First image from the new wide field telescope and camera of the Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae. This was a test of the system and the frames were a bit shorter than I plan in the future. But it does show the quality of the new scope and camera. The processing of the images is very different and I have to learn again! ... See MoreSee Less
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It has been a very long run of cloudy weather, so I have been making changes and adjustments to the main telescope. I have had some extra horse power involved as well. I am still way behind on my own work, so still unsure when the next tours will be. A big issue is the closure of the highway for up to a year. I do have running costs that just aren’t being covered with only a few people per tour. It may be a case of waiting until it opens again so I at least break even on tour nights. ... See MoreSee Less
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Hang in there Ray ! Can you get government support because of the road closure?
Hi Ray many people are needed for a tour? im only down the road but would love to get a group together and come have a look
Wannabe is your new assistant 🥰
My son would love to visit!! Maybe offer to science classes at schools??
Wayne Neilson
That road closure is causing many issues.
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Some of the new camera gear has arrived!!! Just waiting on a connector and then will put it through its paces. Although I have cut back on tours (so I can image and do research) I will still be offering some tours, though likely a bit more randomly than before. That said, I should be able to squeeze in a couple in school holidays.... Watch this space. ... See MoreSee Less
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Always loved your sense of humour.... "Watch this space"... then I clicked to type a comment and Facebook added to your pun... "This space is yours". 😁 Can't wait to see more of your research and photography with your new gear!
Unfortunately due to personal reasons and much discussion with my friends and family, I've had to make to decision to ease back on tours for perhaps the rest of the year. I will still be offering some special nights, but the regular weekends I will be having to allocate for catching up with a few observatory projects of my own. I will also be investing in some new equipment for the observatory to hopefully improve the images I take. For example.. Wait and see what the new equipment will do with the galaxy NGC 5128 I took recently with the old! But please stay following me as there will be more frequent images posted and stay tuned for special nights, particularly if you are an astronomy buff! Plus I'll keep you posted with what you can see in the sky! ... See MoreSee Less
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Niall you just take as much time as you like… looking forward to seeing the photos your new equipment will produce.
I’m super keen to bring my kiddos along. We found your page last night so will keep an eye out for the next update!
My son is super Keen to visit so I’ll be watching for special. Can you confirm the next closest to us is Mudgee??
Beautiful
Wow didnt know you did tours. I will have to keep watch. Anthony Robinson
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The comet R3 Panstarrs, isn't as bright as a few nights ago, and you still need binoculars to see it, but it was nicely place next to the Orion Nebula (M42) on the evening of the 10th May. ... See MoreSee Less
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West just after sunset.
Bathurst Observatory Research Facility my Son was driving me home tonight on Turondale Rd and unfortunately I was looking the other way. From his right hand side somewhere over Peel as we approached Winburndale Rivulet he yelled Mum as he saw what he described as a bright spark in the sky. Are you aware of what it could have been? Any other sightings? Possibly around 6.30ish!
What time and direction is Orion please?
My first larger telescope image of comet R3 Panstarrs on the evening of the 5th of May. I should be able to get better as it gets higher in the sky. ... See MoreSee Less
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Its great. Did you have to delete heaps of satellites? I can't believe how many are in my stack of photos. I've still got to go through them to see if I got 2025 R3 comet.
What time was this taken
Beautiful!
Great capture, better than mine with camera and 24 - 105mm lens (30 photos stacked)
Breathtaking
Stunning!
Did you get any photos last night (6th) i went out about 7.15 and got 30 raw shots and stacked them to get this photo. I'm hoping it was weather situation in the west causing seeing problems but the tail was very short last night from intown Cudal.
Excellent
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