[Deeno]

A visit to Coona (that’s what the locals call it) wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Siding Springs Observatory, home of a dozen telescopes including the 25 year old and Australia’s largest optical telescope, the Anglo Australian Telescope. The 3.9 meter primary mirror makes it little large for your everyday "grab and go" scope and its unlikely its going to fit into the back of the Corolla. There isn't anywhere for an eyepiece anyway. Every year the primary mirror is removed and recoated with a scant 2.8 grams (about a thimble full) of aluminum.

The visitor centre has a hall that is full of hands on exhibits that should keep the kiddies and adults amused with exhibits ranging from how the distance of stars are calculated to the difference of how much a milk carton might weigh on different planets. It is badly outdated though and looks as if it hasn't been updated much over the past decade. Surprised to find there is nothing on Rob McNaught and his world famous comet that was discovered through the sites Uppsala Southern Schmidt Telescope.

Well worth a look.

Cheers
Deeno

Driving back through the Warrumbungles after sunset I was lucky to catch the AAT’s dome open and Mars in the same frame through a gap in the trees.