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RSAA News of the Month: December 2004

CAS is back

Canberra Astronomical Society Install New Telescope on Stromlo

Almost two years after losing their headquarters in the firestorm of Jan 18, 2003, Canberra Astronomical Society (CAS) have returned to Mt Stromlo. With them they bring a new 14" Meade LX200, donated to the society by Meade Instruments Corp and The Binocular and Telescope Shop.

At the time of the fire, CAS headquarters was the Uppsala dome on Stromlo. They were given the use of this empty dome in the late 1980s after the Uppsala Schmidt was moved to Siding Spring. The dome housed their library, society records, computers, telescopes and ancillary equipment. They lost the lot.

CAS president Andrew White approached Meade Instrument Corp. to see if Meade would sponsor the society in any way. Meade and their Australian agent, the Sydney-based Binocular and Telescope Shop, responded by presenting them with a top-of-the-range Meade LX 200 GPS, the sort of telescope that amateurs dream about. RSAA offered CAS the use of a roll-off-roof shed (known to RSAA staff as the TARDIS) formerly used to house the automatic weather station for the 50" telescope, and equipment being tested for use in the Antarctic astronomy project.

Left: CAS members Kim Rawlings, John Howard and Andrew White with the
newly-unpacked Meade in a temporary dome before its move to Stromlo.
Centre: The TARDIS. Andrew is visible in the doorway, making last-minute adjustments to the floor.
Right: The Meade installed in the TARDIS.

Part of the conditions of the Meade donation is that it be available for use in public outreach and education. RSAA and CAS have a long-standing mutually-beneficial relationship in such activities and the LX200 will be integrated into the joint programs.

CAS have been part of the Stromlo scene for over 25 years, providing valuable support to the Observatory's observing and outreach programs. The past four Directors of Mt Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories (now the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the Australian National University) have been Patrons of CAS.

CAS members were prime users of the historic 9" Oddie telescope (erected on Mt Stromlo in 1911) from the time it became an outreach telescope back in the mid 1970s. Members used the Oddie for variable star photometry, supernova and comet searches and double star measurements as well as astrophotography and stargazing.

Left: Storm clouds and drizzle, but the dedication goes on.
Centre: Prof John Norris officially opening the refurbished TARDIS.
Right: A lost Dr ???? and an even-more-lost refugee from another TV series emerge.

In 1994, then Director Don Mathewson offered the Observatory as the host site for the 1994 National Australian Convention of Amateur Astronomers. From October 1996 to the time of the fire CAS held their monthly meetings in the Duffield Lecture Theatre. Since the fire, meetings have been held at CSIRO headquaters. They return to the new Duffield Lecture Theatre in January next year.

The Reynolds Amateur Photometry Team (RAPT), a group of CAS members, used the 30" Reynolds telescope during the 1990s to provide backup and monitoring observations of MACHO and supernova events. Their efforts won them the 2002 Berenice Page Medal of the Astronomical Society of Australia. Many CAS members were Service Observers on the 74"telescope, doing the observing for overseas astronomers who could not travel to Stromlo for their scheduled observing runs.

CAS members formed the core group of Explainers in the Mt Stromlo Observatory Visitors Centre, and the society has always helped out on those occasions where large groups of night visitors meant that more telescopes and operators were needed.

The dedication of the Meade and celebration of the return to Stromlo were held at the Observatory on December 11. Despite a threatening weather forecast, the storms all missed Stromlo and the barbecue/party was successful.

Left: Mike Smith (Bintel), John Norris (RSAA) and Andrew White (CAS president).
Centre: Members lined up for an inspection of the new Meade LX200.
Right: Every great barbecue needs a mad chef. Meet Mike Sid-on-Io, the OzItalian wonder chef.

Welcoming the CAS back to Stromlo, Prof John Norris said; "CAS is now the second organization to install a telescope on Stromlo after the fire. Stromlo and CAS have had a very close and productive relationship over the years and we are very pleased to have you all back on the mountain".

Images: Kim Rawlings

 

For previous Monthly News items, click here.