[Wavytone]

I'll suggest we are in violent agreement concerning the seeing at Observatory Hill.

The problem is the choice of telescope. As I indicated before what is needed is a museum piece to impress the public, not something for serious observations of anything.

Geoff's hints confirm my own experience from living at Waverton - its going to be limited to the moon, the bright planets, bright double stars and a handful of nebulae, clusters and maybe 5 galaxies for the really interested. A couple of filters might help to but the light pollution form the harbour bridge, though I'll confess I didn't try this.

Perhaps the odd passing comet near the zenith (Halley).

Considering the French government has just passed a law requiring businesses in Paris to cut unnecessary lighting I'd suggest the observatory could do rather more to champion the cause against unecessary lighting - starting with the Harbour Bridge and the SCG. Just turn it OFF. A green initiative that no-one can argue against.