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.Â
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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. Â 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/
In a real imaging challenge, I was just able to capture comet Pons Brooks in evening twilight on the 18th of April. It couldn't actually see it even with the portable telescope I was using, but was able to record it in an image in a ten second exposure. ... See MoreSee Less
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Very well done Ray. I hope the prospects are better for May.
Excellent
16th April, and I snapped some Moon images just before the public tour! ... See MoreSee Less
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Grace Fagnano
Excitement is now building for the 22nd of July 2028 total solar eclipse that will occur over parts of Australia. Bathurst Observatory IS under the total eclipse path. Although this is still a few years away, we have began our planning. One thing we will need to know is how many people we may expect. We are currently planning a few sites around Bathurst that can host a gathering of people but that will depend on numbers. At present we are seeking expression of interest of those who would be seeking sites. Note this is NOT a booking, but just a plan. In addition to sending an EOI, indicate your level of experience (total novice, amateur or professional), how far you would be coming from and what sort of things you might be seeking at a dedicated site. Please remember this is NOT a booking. Please just use the message button and we will collate the data! ... See MoreSee Less
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Orion is getting low in the west this time of year. This is Orion taken with just a camera with a 35mm lens. You can see a few nebula and star clusters!
Tours for school holidays are the 15th until the 18th, sorry there aren't more available, but I have a few things on myself. There is also a tour on the 4th of May.
There is a bit of interest in comet Pons Brooks as well. It "may" be just visible late in April for us in Southern Hemisphere, but it will be low in the west in some twilight at this time. I will detail more in a couple of weeks. ... See MoreSee Less
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Hello there! My friend and I are thinking of making a trip to bathrust between 16-18th april. We were wondering if we can come along for the stargazing tour! If so, what are the procedures we need to take on for bookings?
Do you think you'll be able to get n image of the Devil Comet soon?
Robert Henry Hansen
Very large and complex sunspot group AR3615 is about to rotate around behind the sun in coming days. This group has been responsible for numerous, and sometimes large, solar flares causing recent aurora. This image of the sun was taken near mid day on the 29th of March using our solar telescope. ... See MoreSee Less
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Saved me putting up my telescope thank you.
Great photo thanks for sharing !
Was a big one.
The sun has had a major solar flare, sending energetic particles towards Earth. These 'should' arrive late on the 25th or early hours of the 26th of March. These will most likely cause a display of Aurora visible across the southern parts of Australia (I know we see them from the Central West at such times) . Aurora are most likely visible in the hours either side of midnight in the southern skies (direction). NOTE: This is also full moon!!!! Full moon will likely be too bright for all but the brighter light filaments of the aurora. So the display will be somewhat muted. I know I prefer auroral displays around New Moon in a dark sky.
Edit: Image from an Aurora last April under dark moonless skies! ... See MoreSee Less
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Bryden Tom
Very exciting.
Shereen Terblanche Braack you might be able to see this with your telescope
Jon Elbourne
Sam King
Debbie Meek
Tamar Greatrix
Tom McInnes
Ben Gaudron
Karen Oborn
Dhana Stevens
Corey
Can you see the lights with your eyes (ie not through a camera) in this region?
Kate Wright
Madison keep your eyes peeled in the wee hours of the morning, to the south! 👀
Rodney Pattison
Shane Carpenter
Tom Kable
Dave Warren
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It was busy weekend, observatory maintenance and the local Astronomy Club (Bathurst and District Astronomical Society, BADAS) booking out Saturday. While the club chatted, I just popped the camera and 50mm lens on a tripod and imaged the Southern Cross and Eta Carina region of the Milky Way.
I am just waiting on a few things before posting tours in advance. There is a much needed hazard reduction burn(s) taking place in the area over coming weeks. The smoke from burning will impact upon tours, so I am just waiting on details of the dates of these. As it turns out the ideal conditions for burning are generally those ideal for astronomy! It may end up I have only a day or twos notice that a tour will be ok to run without smoke. I will keep everyone posted.
In other news, we will soon get an upgrade to facilities here after a friendly plumber looks like they will install the much awaited toilet in a month or so! ... See MoreSee Less
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Such a great news, thank you for keeping us posted! Can’t wait to bring the kids along 🙌
When will the next tour be?
If it is clear on Friday the 1st of March, there is a nice pass of the International Space Station. Head outside just before 8:54pm and look towards the SW. You will see the space station appear as a bright, moving star like object. It will continue to brighten and rise higher before passing almost overhead at 8:57pm. It will then fade into Earth's shadow at 8:58pm in the NE. (The weather forecast though isn't looking good!) ... See MoreSee Less
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Are you going to photograph it Ray?
Paul Marnoch
Steven Emanuel
Mikayla Chadwick
Fingers crossed on the weather, app is saying overhead for us in Cudal 😀
Jess Selmes
Logan Spice
Michael Griffiths
Kylie Christie
Not clear in Mudgee unfortunately
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Some nights after a tour, I am too tired to connect the camera to the telescope, so I pop the camera on a spare tracking mount with just a 50mm lens. A few nights ago, I imaged the larger Magellanic galaxy. This is one of the stunning highlights of the southern skies!
I'll post March tour dates during the coming week, however, I do know March 1st is one of them! ... See MoreSee Less
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