a question - is there anybody out there (down here)?

[fringe_dweller]

Ziggy - i havent stopped laughing everytime i see that image of the ride on model thomas the tank engine train - good on 'em, must be a lot of work all that
i would have to agree on the stats you mention on scopes and continuation

Peter, i hadnt thought of our insects in the equation, damn good point that one, would explain heaps. you forgot to mention game consoles/and umm ..forums?
I remember a while ago a US S&T that did a survey of their average readership age and it was something like 50!! they blamed consoles/computers largely for the decline in youngsters taking it up, which surprises me coz its never been easier to have some nice kit and learn fast with puters/net/gizmo's ect
sounds like a dream job! inspiring people to look up more often, and sharing the knowledge
with respect, I dont know about the location familarity thing tho, i used to live at a house for a long time that was more ideal than my present one, and i definitely did heaps more observing than i do now

Bert, i happen to thinks rocks are pretty cool too looking down in the daytime, and then up at night (my poor neck LOL)

[rumples riot]

Originally Posted by fringe_dweller

Photography is supposed to be one of the biggest hobbies in the world/Oz included - and had even overtaken fishing recently?? i think as number one??..
So how does one explain the lack of available images?

Kearn, there are many websites out there that cater for us photographers DeviantArt is one such site it contains 15million pieces of work. Some is garbage, but most of it is great work and just a small amount is simply brilliant.

I invite you to look at this site and you are sure to find a topic of photography to your liking.

On another not, I think Ken is right here and I have to say that I would not have misconstrued his intent. I think that generally bold and sweeping statements incur the wraith of others who may be affected. We are all guilty of doing this. All I can say is at least it was not me this time Ken

Besides I love a good debate. Get into.

[fringe_dweller]

Thanks Paul, i went through that site first time a bit right back when i saw your first posts linking to your page there, and I am impressed, of lots of new stuff all the time tho, i went through nearly the whole pbase ones once
but while so much of it all is absolutely brilliant, i found the majority of photographers were either north american and european, not a lot of local stuff for a country of 20 million people, i have just googled and there is certainly quite a bit of very nice aussie stuff out there, maybe i've just not been looking hard enough?

[Ziggy Stardust]

Ark Ark...mate you may laugh...


but here is somehting closer to home...

you all play with fancy pacny scopes, $2000 binos... and $5000 CDcams....


how about puting a little back like the train boys.
We spent four years back where I came from re-commissioning the old Historical 26inch ( yes thats Inchs!!!) Grubb Refractor ... It was the sister scope to the one last in the Great Astronomy Fire here.
We ahd to make new pieces for brass work stolen and sold for scrap and others just stealing peaces to say they "have a peace of it".

We battled to get guys to put in time and to work with a few ton's of steel and brass is hard work moving it around.

The final opening was for the big Mars event back in 2003. We got many visitors and many new young guns who where impressed by the scale of the project.

so how many histroical scopes and facilities are dead or going to dust??? and should guys like us save them???

here is a few images of the scope being used, a picture of the original pics taken back in the 1954 to 1956 by WS Finsen. This old girl can still produce great views with the big doublet 26 inch main lens!!! Only sad thing is she is now in the middle of a city and light pollution has stole her glory.

Tony

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/757...iewings3lh.jpg


http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/343...s26inch9ko.jpg

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/451...csboard3vk.jpg

[fringe_dweller]

Tony, you certainly bring a wealth of interesting experience to IIS! I am enjoying your posts a lot. Very, very interesting story and images, I dont know of too many historical scopes to restore locally, but i seriously applaud people who get in and have a go and preserve history for future generations to enjoy wonderful project!

as for the toys you mention! santa where's my $2000 bino's

[Ziggy Stardust]

Originally Posted by fringe_dweller

Tony, you certainly bring a wealth of interesting experience to IIS! I am enjoying your posts a lot. Very, very interesting story and images, I dont know of too many historical scopes to restore locally, but i seriously applaud people who get in and have a go and preserve history for future generations to enjoy wonderful project!

as for the toys you mention! santa where's my $2000 bino's

did you note see Santas note to cu off the bottom of the VB's and grind a new pair with the paste he left for you???

Yeah, I have found that often you will find old scopes and even observatories etc, being negleted due to councils not having the funds, motivation or courage to look after them. We first ran into the "eltist hobby" response, till we should how in one weekend of a star camp with the big old scope, we where able to motivate many young minds to do maths and science in school again.

Oh and if my posts get to out of hand... call my boss and tell him I'm slacking off again on the nett

Tony

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Tony,

you might appreciate our Societies Observatory. History preserved on an ongoing basis. Have a look around the site at the old scopes. This observatory was opened in the 1880's and is still going strong. http://observatory.ballarat.net/

[Ziggy Stardust]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Tony,

you might appreciate our Societies Observatory. History preserved on an ongoing basis. Have a look around the site at the old scopes. This observatory was opened in the 1880's and is still going strong. http://observatory.ballarat.net/

ahhhh nothing like good old glass.!!!

Old glass hase seen the past and is now seeing the future!!

We had three old observatories. When we took them over they where is a real bad shape. Main one was built around 1905 and the 26 inch Grubb refractor was installed in 1925. The two smaller domes had two old 6 and 8 inch refractors and a pair of "modern" ( around 1950's to 1960's) refrectors.

today all six scopes are in working order. They use mostly for training up ametures and newbies to the hobby.

We still use the 1905 main building on the hill as our clubhouse when I left.

Tony

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/472...llation6zj.jpg
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/878...ubbdome3oj.jpg
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/6586/clubhouse7ci.jpg