perth observatory

[TJD]

i just came back from the perth observatory a nd man do they have lots of scopes 12" 14" 16" 12" and 120mm and main scope

:astron:good night but altogather

[snowyskiesau]

I'm in Perth for work this week and was looking for things to do on the weekend.
I'd forgotten all about the observatory, might head out there today/tonight.

[Blue Skies]

But altogether...what?

I do some volunteer work up there so wouldn't mind hearing what you think.

BTW, anyone thinking of going up there MUST make a booking, or you'll most likely be politely turned away. Make sure you ring during normal weekday office hours too. It is a research facility, after all, not a public observatory.

[TJD]

but all togather i had seen all the objects and wanted to see a galexy or something that realy needs a good telescope and is realy faint

[kinetic]

Hi Jacquie,

I have a relative who worked for many years at the Perth Observatory
and had a minor planet named in her honour for her research work.
My Mum was actually named after her.
You might have met her? I will send you a pm.

Sorry Trevor for straying off topic.

Steve

[TJD]

great to hear about the minor planet i have some problems you see i got a 12"black diamond f=5 dob and i drop a screw driver on the primary mirror wile trying to collimate the 2nd mirror it hit hard and i fainted:scared: and well if i tell any more ill burst out in tears

[Blue Skies]

Well, no, you wouldn't have got to see a galaxy up there because:
1. The moon was first quarter and no one goes galaxy hunting when the moon is that bright.
2. the big telescopes are made for imaging through, not looking through. That's why the 'smaller' 12" to 16" scopes are there.
3. Most people don't appreciate or even see galaxies on their first try. The majority of visitors to the observatory have never or rarely looked through a telescope and have no idea what they are looking at. They often have very wrong expectations of what they can see through a telescope - although they can be pleasantly surprised by what they can see. As is often explained on here it take time to train your eye to see detail through the eyepiece. Showing someone a faint smudge is not the best way to excite them about science, even if you can explain what they are seeing well.

To illustrate the eye-training experience, I often recall the story I read once of the man you bought himself a good goto telescope. Wanting to impress the wife, he spent hours trying to find a well known 'bright' galaxy. After going around in the circles for hours, trying to find it - he couldn't see it in the eyepiece. Finally he gave up and told the wife "well, have a look anyway." She did, and was amazed - she could see the galaxy perfectly! But it was only once she had told him what was there was he able to detect himself. He'd been looking straight at it all along!

If you want to see galaxies you need to be in a dark place away from light pollution with no moon in the sky. Your 10" dob should be able to pick up hundreds of them - just don't expect them to look like they do in picture books.

[Blue Skies]

There have been a lot of changes in staff over the years up there but I don't recall meeting anyone with that kind of history. Please send the pm and I'll get back to you that one.

[hilb]

Hi Trevor,

Bad, bad, awful news about your mirror. I completely understand any tears associated with that. Get on the net and contact the telescope shops in the eastern states like Bintel, York Optics, etc, or NVT here in Perth (internet only, no shopfront), they'll be able to give you an idea of cost, time, freight, etc.

In the meantime, come on out to ASWA (http://aswa.info)'s next deep-sky night at Baker's Hill and we'll show you some galaxies! Weather permitting, that is. Down at Astrocamp at Dryandra last weekend we saw heaps. I chased down about 14 with my 8" skywatcher dob. It was awesome, galaxy heaven. Check out the diary on the website (http://aswa.info) for date, place, contact numbers etc.

Cheers and good luck with the mirror,
HilB...:)

[TJD]

12" dob with cracked mirror:sadeyes: so no dob at all so far