Perth Observatory 14"

[alocky]

Here's a shot I took last night during a Perth Observatory Volunteer viewing night. I got one guy to turn the dome during the 30s shot so the door provided a nice rolling shutter to the interior.
Camera D810A, iso6400, 30s, f3.4@14mm, tripod, processing in Nikon Capture NX-D.
I took a few more images during the night: link to the flickr album here:
https://flic.kr/s/aHske5yfxV

[SpaceNoob]

This is a seriously cool image!

[blink138]

heh thats a cracking shot andrew!
pat

[Derek Klepp]

A great pic Andrew

[ChrisM]

A great result Andrew. The people must have been relatively still for how ever long the sliding shutter exposed them.

Chris

[DavidTrap]

Very effective Andrew. I presume the entire building rotates - interesting design.

Had a look at your flickr page - some fantastic images there!

DT

[IanP]

Wow! Great shots !!!

[alocky]

Thanks Ian, it's a great facility up there, and I hope we can raise it's profile a bit now they're handed the operations over to us volunteers!


Thanks for your kind words David! Yes, the whole building rotates on tracks, turned by handwheels on the wall. I think it was built when the C14 was installed, which must have been over 30 years ago.


In fact - if you know Bevan - it's hard to imagine him standing still for 1/8000th, let alone 30! I was surprised how clear the guys in the dome were.


Thanks Derek!


Cheers Pat - one of those few crazy ideas that actually worked out!


Thanks!

[PeterM]

Great image Andrew!

[whosthebadman]

Great picture!

[Meru]

Love it! The human element makes it feel so much more personal

[alocky]

Cheers Pete!


Thanks!


I agree - I've got a feeling Bevan stood there staring wistfully upwards, as still as he could, on purpose :)
cheers,
Andrew.

[DIYman]

Andrew
How would you describe the sky at the Perth Ob in terms of mag/sec arc? Would be down to 22?

Cheers Doug

[alocky]

Hi Doug - I've never measured it so can't quote numbers. It's not great I'd say Bortle scale 5 to 4, NELM slightly better than 6.
I believe someone did run a sky meter on it, but other than saying it was comparable to the sky at Gin Gin observatory I can't remember the values.

[bobbyf]

That's really cool Andrew. Well done :thumbsup:

[IanP]

who are "they" and who are "us" :question:

[alocky]

Thanks Bob!



Hi Ian "they" would be the Department of Parks and Wildlife who retrenched all the full time staff of the Perth Observatory last year. "Us" is the Perth observatory volunteers group, who have been handed the opportunity to keep the place running by continuing the public outreach program.

[DIYman]

Andrew
I am now in Bickley and have bought a sky meter so I may pop up there one night and take a reading.
Cheers Doug.