Sydney Harbour at night from Observatory Hill

iceman (Mike) · #1 23-08-2005, 09:15 AM

Hi guys.

Went to Sydney Observatory last night for the Steve Squyres talk, and took a few pictures of the harbour from Observatory Hill.

It was a fantastic view.. but geez, light pollution! I could only make out the brightest stars.

All pics taken with my Sony DSCP100, exposure approx 4seconds @ ISO200, and I used my little (8cm or so) mini tabletop tripod (which fits in my pocket) on the ground to keep the camera steady.

Comments welcome.

RB (Andrew) · #2 23-08-2005, 09:31 AM

Great photos Mike, nice colours.
I know what you mean about LIGHT POLLUTION.

beren · #3 23-08-2005, 10:54 PM

Wow what a view , great pics ......is the Sydney ob more of a museum or does it house working scopes?

iceman (Mike) · #4 23-08-2005, 10:59 PM

Thanks guys.

Stuart, it's mostly a museum but they still have the north and south domes with working telescopes. I'm not sure what is in the South Dome, but the North Dome houses the 16" Meade LX200. I can't imagine they'd get too much faint DSO viewing in Sydney light pollution, but it's more of a service to the public to show them the good bright stuff, education tours etc.

toetoe (Peter) · #5 23-08-2005, 11:15 PM

Great pics Mike, i did look at them while readin your right up on the night.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #6 23-08-2005, 11:18 PM

I bet you can't see the Milky Way from up there!

They are really great pics Mike.

johnno · #7 23-08-2005, 11:33 PM

Great pic's Mike,
Imagine living in the place,with all that light pollution,I will never complain about the next door neighbours back light again.
Regards.John

astroron (Ron) · #8 23-08-2005, 11:54 PM

They have a large refractor in the other dome I think its an eight inch or there abouts, its made of brass it looks really nice. Nice photo's Mike. astroron

Striker (Tony) · #9 24-08-2005, 01:59 PM

Nice pics Mike.....

Ever thought of getting a full size Tripod.

iceman (Mike) · #10 24-08-2005, 02:07 PM

I have one, just didn't want to carry it through the city and into the talk.

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #11 24-08-2005, 03:39 PM

Mike,

The South dome houses an 11.5" refractor. It was built in 1874 and is the oldest working telescope in Australia.

Don't quote me on the following but I will have a stab:-

Built by Hugo Schreider in Germany.
Focal ratio is about F14.

As you could appreciate this scope being a 130 year old achromat is not up to the quality of modern day apochromatic refractors but has a lot of historical significance.

Greg Bryant or one of the observatory night guides like Les Dalrymple can probably tell you a lot more about it than I can. I have looked through it a few times during past observatory visits. It is a historical work of art.

CS-John B

atalas · #12 24-08-2005, 04:28 PM

Yes Mike nice spot to visit and you cought the moment well in your pics, I always enjoy going there. On the old refractor in the south dome.... I thought It was an 8" John ?Ive viewed through It a couple of times once at Mars and once at Jupiter. I loved sitting through the 3 D movies they show in the theartre.

Louie