2015-11-23 Campbelltown Rotary Observatory Plaque

Campbelltown Rotary Observatory in Campbelltown,

NSW ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

was opened in 2000 and is owned by

Western Sydney University Western Sydney University, formerly the University of Western Sydney, is an Australian multi-campus university in the Greater Western region of Sydney, Australia. The university in its current form was founded in 1989 as a federated network ...

. It consists of twin domes of 4.5m and 2.9m diameter. The patron of the

Observatory An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. His ...

was the late Sir Arthur C Clarke CBE. The Observatory Director (2000-2022) was the late Dr. Ragbir Bhathal. It was previously called UWS Rotary Observatory.

Objectives and activities

The observatory is utilised by Western Sydney University for its

Optical SETI The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) is a collective term for scientific searches for intelligent extraterrestrial life, for example, monitoring electromagnetic radiation for signs of transmissions from civilizations on other pl ...

Research Project and as a field laboratory. It conducts the National Project on Significant Australian Physicists, Astrophysicists and Engineers and the National Project on Aboriginal Astronomy. It also organises a community outreach program, including observing nights and public astronomy lectures, often in conjunction with

Macarthur Astronomical Society Macarthur Astronomical Society is an organisation of amateur astronomers, based in the Macarthur Region of outer South Western Sydney, NSW, Australia, including the local government areas of the City of Campbelltown, Camden Council, Wollo ...

and the

Macarthur Astronomy Forum Macarthur Astronomy Forum is a monthly public forum organised by Macarthur Astronomical Society, providing leading national and international professional astronomers with a platform to address the Forum on topics of astronomical interest; also ...

. Its stated mission objective is to: * Train future

scientists A scientist is a person who conducts scientific research to advance knowledge in an area of the natural sciences. In classical antiquity, there was no real ancient analog of a modern scientist. Instead, philosophers engaged in the philosophica ...

and

engineers Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the limit ...

. * Serve as a

laboratory A laboratory (; ; colloquially lab) is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific or technological research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. Laboratory services are provided in a variety of settings: physicia ...

for engineering students to carry out innovative projects. * Undertake education research in

engineering Engineering is the use of scientific method, scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad rang ...

physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...

and related engineering disciplines. * Advance the search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence in the optical spectrum. * Record and assess the major developments and discoveries of Australia's significant

astrophysicists The following is a list of astronomers, astrophysicists and other notable people who have made contributions to the field of astronomy. They may have won major prizes or awards, developed or invented widely used techniques or technologies within a ...

physicists A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe. Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate caus ...

and engineers. * Advance the study of 40,000 years of

Aboriginal astronomy Australian Aboriginal astronomy is a name given to Aboriginal Australian culture relating to astronomical subjects – such as the Sun and Moon, the stars, planets, and the Milky Way, and their motions on the sky. Traditional Aboriginal cu ...

. * Undertake community engagement activities.

History

The construction of the observatory was principally funded in cash and kind from the Campbelltown Branch of

Rotary International Rotary International is one of the largest service organizations in the world. Its stated mission is to "provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through hefellowship of business, prof ...

and other local organisations. It was opened on 15 July 2000 by the Hon. Michael Knight (MP for Campbelltown and Minister for the

2000 Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from 1 ...

) on a small hilltop on land at the rear of the University of Western Sydney Campbelltown Campus. The University was renamed Western Sydney University in 2015. Both domes were equipped with a

Meade LX200 The Meade LX200 is a family of commercial telescopes produced by Meade Instruments launched in 1992 with 8" (20.32 cm) and a 10" (25.4 cm) Schmidt–Cassegrain models on computerized altazimuth mounts. Two larger models, a 12" (30.48 ...

Schmidt–Cassegrain

telescope A telescope is a device used to observe distant objects by their emission, absorption, or reflection of electromagnetic radiation. Originally meaning only an optical instrument using lenses, curved mirrors, or a combination of both to observe ...

(400mm and 300mm diameter respectively). In December 2008, Dr Bhathal detected a sharp '

laser A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word "laser" is an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". The fir ...

look-alike' signal emanating from the

globular cluster A globular cluster is a spheroidal conglomeration of stars. Globular clusters are bound together by gravity, with a higher concentration of stars towards their centers. They can contain anywhere from tens of thousands to many millions of membe ...

47 Tucanae 47 Tucanae, or 47 Tuc (also designated NGC 104) is a globular cluster located in the constellation Tucana. It is about away from Earth, and 120 light years in diameter. 47 Tuc can be seen with the naked eye, with an apparent magnitude of 4.1. It ...

. However, despite further searches, the signal has yet to be replicated. In 2013 the land on which the observatory stood was sold to make way for the new residential suburb of Macarthur Heights and the observatory domes were temporarily closed and removed, while the hill was bulldozed. The observatory was reopened in 2015 in a new position closer to the University campus buildings. The developers of the new estate of Macarthur Heights recognised the astronomical heritage of the site by naming new streets with an astronomical theme and by erecting an astro-sculpture known as the Gates of Light in a public park close to the new and old observatory sites. The first public night in the new location was held in collaboration with

on 5 December 2015.Inspiring Young Minds To Take Up Science By Gazing At The Stars
''The Daily Telegraph'' Originally named as UWS Rotary Observatory, since its relocation in 2015 it has been known as Campbelltown Rotary Observatory.

References

External links

Campbelltown Rotary Observatory
official website.
Photographs of the Observatory
{{Portal bar, Australia, Astronomy, Stars, Spaceflight, Outer space, Solar System, Education, Science Astronomical observatories in New South Wales Western Sydney University

Objectives and activities

History

See also

References

External links