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Bookings on 5332 7526. Download an application form here.
ABOUT THE OBSERVATORY
Some recent residents at the Observatory inlcude a Maned (Wood) Duck family, with their young perched high in a eucalypt."Dad" was close by and "Mum" was making a quiet burbling sound, as can been seen by her open beak, warning the babies to keep their heads in perhaps. The weather has been very kind to ducks and in between the rain there is the occasional crystal clear night.
Venus is very bright in the West. Jupiter is rising earlier now and very bright in the East. More information here.
Federation-Adcock Telescope 2nd stage
Work has begun on the end room on the Federation-Adcock Telescope building. This will be an expanded optical laboratory. The University of Ballarat Tafe Campus bricklaying students are completing the brickwork and the building students will complete the roof section. It is hoped that it will be completed early next year.
Tony Dyson is carrying out repair work to some of the lights in the rear section which have corroded.
Brittain House The new toilet is now installed. Philip Greenbank carried out the repairs to the floor and wall for the plumber to do the rest. Two hand driers have been purchased with a Grant and will shortly be installed. The map drawers donated from the Mechanics Institute have been painted by Kath Blackwell and Judith Bailey and are now installed in the library. The introduction of the "Astronomical Conversations Casual Dinner" theme to some of our lectures will provide opportunity to talk with some of our guest speakers. Fulfilling the requirement of No Smoking in the Cafe building, the Observatory also has signage noting that the whole site is a Non Smoking zone. New Gender signs have been placed on the outside toilets near the car park.
A small group of members is working on recording the various Museum and BAS collections. Any member who is interested to help is most welcome to come along on Tuesday Afternoon at 2pm.
Jeff Bunn Bequest
The Museum has received a bequest of $25,000 from the Estate of Jeff Bunn. This bequest has been invested in a 12 month term deposit and the income that accrues will be used to purchase additions to the Museum, to help maintain the existing collection and some will be re-invested.
The BAS account also has a term deposit of $10,000 invested for 12 months. Both mature in May 2011.
Observatory 125th Anniversary 2011 If anyone has a good idea to celebrate this event, the committee would like to hear about it.
Observatory Business Plan. January and February were very busy for BAS and this is reflected in the increase in visitor numbers. A recent visit from a family from America found out about us on the web, before they visited Australia. Geoff Mcleod keeps our website up to date and this is a very well used site with a growing number of visitors looking for information. BAS Committee have decided to make the management position a paid position with the demonstrators positions upgraded. All Bas Members working with children will require a Working with Children clearance from the 30th June. If you are interested to become a demonstrator then I would like to hear from you. It is envisaged that an Assistant Manager role could be created. -Judith Bailey - Manager
One of our past members, Linda has donated the entire kit for this orrery to the Observatory. Over the winter months this project will be started and any member who would like to help with this project is welcome to come along on the first Friday of the month at 6.00pm. The first workshop will be on May 7th.
Sky Notes
Information about astronomical events over a three month period is available here.
WARNING NEVER to look directly at the sun through a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical aid. You could be blinded.
Items available for sale at the Observatory include:
Astronomy 2010 Yearbook - now $11.50 + $2.00 postageObservatory booklet - $5.50 + $1.50 postage
Planispheres or star wheels - $14.50 + $2 postage. See what's in the sky and when.
IYA mug - $6.60 + $5.70 postage.
Astro-calendars for 2011 now available - $15.00 + $2.00 postage.
NOTE - most astronomy Year Books, planispheres etc. give rise and set times etc. in UT (Universal Time, set by the Greenwich 0 degree meridian) or EST (Eastern Australian Standard Time) with no allowance for Daylight Saving Time (Summer Time).
A book now in stock
"Probing the New Solar System" by John Wilkinson $40 + $6.00 postage.
Discounted Books - Pluto is still called a Planet in these books.
"Astronomy-the Definitive Guide" - $21 reduced to $15 + $6 postage - excellent general astronomy information book. Good section on southern hemisphere, with seasonal north and south sky maps and south polar maps. Some maps are 'upside-down' to us, but excellent as finder maps. Lots of historical information, plus 'Choosing and using 'binoculars and telescopes; how to take sky photos with simple equipment.
"Skywatching" $24 reduced to $15 + $6 postage.
For more advanced observing, not in stock for sale, is "Hartung's Astronomical Objects." Expensive, but will last you for years. It may be seen at the observatory.
To order an item or to obtain the postage cost for multiple items contact the Observatory.