The Great Melbourne Telescope by Richard Gillespie

[anj026]

I'm not sure if there is a previous thread on this book. I can highly recommend it. It is well researched and very well written. A fascinating story of a unique and special telescope.

Many years ago in the mid nineties I had the pleasure of seeing the telescope at Mt Stromlo. I was saddened when the fires destroyed it in 2003. It is exciting to know it is being restored and re-instated in it's original location in Melbourne. I look forward to seeing it again one day.

https://maas.museum/observations/2011/12/20/book-review-the-great-melbourne-telescope-by-richard-gillespie/

[Kunama]

Hi Andy,
I've been following the restoration project (Phoenix) for some time. It is an excellent undertaking, albeit, very expensive.
Thanks for this link.
I too remember the scope well. The scope was modified quite a bit in use and some of the modifications are now decorating the grounds at Mt Stromlo.

https://greatmelbournetelescope.org.au/restoration-project/

[dannat]

it will be terrific if we can source a mirror to get a scope & the mount back in use for the pubic

[AstroJunk]

Whilst I applaud the initiative entirely...

I got so see (and smell) the burnt out remains of this once great telescope and found the experience actually very moving. I would have liked to have seen it unrestored and re-opened to the public I situ!

Is that too outrageous? It's certainty too late!

What will be interesting is the final configuration they choose. It has been chopped and changed so much since its original Grubb days. I wonder what ever happened to the original mirror (IIRC the one that melted was relatively recent).

[anj026]

Thanks for the link Matt, that is interesting.

I understand one of the two original speculum mirrors is still around. The intention for the future telescope restoration will be with a more modern glass mirror.

[dannat]

glass mirror yes, cost almost astronomical

our society missed out on a free to good home college mirror bout 2 yrs ago, would have been close to perfect 50"

[Kunama]

I understand that a small component of this telescope is doing duty in a currently used reflector which does outreach in the ACT..... Or so I am told .......

[goober]

Matt Smith did a very short lived podcast, Tempus, and one episode was on this telescope. Well worth a listen - only 20 minutes or so. You can find it on iTunes, and probably elsewhere.

[Satchmo]

The book is available from Bintel and a fantastic read .

[Stefan Buda]

Hi Matt,
If that component is from the original version of the telescope, the restoration team would be very interested to find out more about it, as many of those original parts are being recreated from old photographs only.
Cheers,
Stefan

[skysurfer]

Great plan! Maybe it will be opened at the 150th anniversary in 2019.

[Kunama]

It is from the discarded later additions. Definitely not an original component. All the original components that survived the fire were gathered up and sent to Melbourne.

[Stefan Buda]

Thanks Matt for clarifying.

[el_draco]

I visited Stromlo a couple of days ago and looked in on the scope. Made the throat close up to see it in that state I can tell you. It must be restored no matter what.

[Kunama]

Yes indeed, the empty dome base and burnt remnants are a sad sight. The later modification truss assembly is resting on the lawn area on the left opposite the domes. I visited the GMT between 75 and 90 quite a few times and then after fires ......

I had many photos of the scopes unfortunately they were among boxes 'lost' by the removalists when we went to Qld.

[FI93]

Has anyone actually asked WHO from Canberra was the senior fire officer in charge at Mt Stromlo? and how did he insist that the fire was fought?
The ear to the ground via NSW RFS makes interesting hearing about what happened up there.

[The_bluester]

Yes, we were up there early this year for a few days and visited Stromlo on our way out to a happier visit to Siding Spring. The way the light was falling on it made it take a few seconds to adjust and start to understand what was there. Very sad.

I am not sure that it should be restored actually, it is quite moving as it is, though I am sure 85% of visitors just look in and see mangled metal.

[Kunama]

Took these photographs of the Great Melbourne Telescope Dome at Mount Stromlo Observatory today:

A sad sight for those who remember it from the earlier days......
I look forward to visiting it once again in Melbourne in years to come...

The second picture shows the later installed upper truss assembly, now a garden ornament on the mountain...