By Tanya Steele
Skywatchers and star lovers will have the chance to take a tour of the Mount Burnett Observatory (MBO) this month as the facility opens its doors to the public.
The Mount Burnett Observatory with the support of Eastern Dandenong Ranges Business and Tourism is part of the Melbourne Open House event on the weekend of 27 and 28 of July.
MBO volunteers will be conducting daytime and evening tours of the iconic Monash Dome and there will be many displays and activities at the weekend event.
Secretary Kim Steere said MBO is a fun place to learn and the volunteers are so happy to share their knowledge with visitors.
“I’ve been a member for five years, it’s such a welcoming place,” she said.
The Open House Melbourne showcases unique and unusual architecture that people don’t normally get to see.
The Monash Dome houses a telescope with an 18-inch mirror which gives members and visitors with magnificent views of the night sky.
“This will be the third year MBO are taking part and we applied because of the Monash dome,” Ms Steere said.
“The visitors will see the dome and they’ll see the large telescope,’ she said.
The Observatory was originally built in 1972 by Monash University as a research facility.
“Students would travel up and use it for observing,” said Ms Steere.
The original telescope in the Monash Dome was used by students and staff to study variable stars. The Log Cabin, added in 1975, provided on-site facilities for students conducting observations. In the early 2000s the facility was no longer needed by Monash University and fell into disrepair. In 2011 an enthusiastic group of local astronomers took over the site and began its restoration, with the aim of preserving the facility and using it to promote astronomy and science to the broader community.
“A group of locals who were interested in astronomy got together and thought, hey, why don’t we just start this up as a club?,” said Ms Steere.
The observatory now services a growing membership of astronomers pursuing a range of activities, including astrophotography, radio astronomy, outreach programs and a Young Observers group.
Ms Steere said the way that people use MBO is always evolving and astrophotography is quite popular at the facility.
“Volunteers will talk to the public about how to get sky good photos with your phone,” she said.
MBO volunteers walked at the recent Belgrave Lantern Parade and had a blast and taught members of the crowd how to capture photos of the moon while they were there.
“You can get photos through smaller telescopes using your phone,” she said.
The volunteers have a great time in pursuit of astronomy and stargazing and Ms Steere said the viewing the recent aurora borealis (northern lights) was a lot of fun.
“We were like a bunch of kids in a lolly shop,” she said.
Ms Steere said the chance to learn to use the telescopes at the open weekend is a great opportunity for the general public.
“People will be able to use the telescopes – if the weather’s good people will be able to look through the telescope in the Monash dome and use the dobs,” she said.
Dobsonian telescopes are smaller portable telescopes that swivel on a base and are quite easy to learn to use.
Visitors will also be able to talk to the MBO Radio Astronomy experts about the mind-blowing future of astronomy as there are also tours running during the day.
“They’re very keen and very knowledgeable and the group is growing,” said Ms Steere
“They have got dishes on the roof collecting radio wave information,” she said.
The MBO Young Observers team will also be on hand to help young astronomers with astronomy craft activities at the big weekend.
People can book for the open day online and tours will run during the daytime on Saturday 27 July at 10 am, 11.30 am, 1 pm and 2.30 pm, the evening tours will run at 5.30 pm and 7.30 pm.
Bookings are required and a $7 booking fee applies.
https://events.humanitix.com/mount-burnett-observatory
All ages are welcome, with partial wheelchair access available and accessible parking nearby.
Those attending are advised to look for the MBO board at the driveway entrance at 420 Paternoster Road in Mount Burnett and to please wear comfortable, sturdy shoes as the ground can be uneven.
This is an outdoor event, so please come prepared for the weather.
At the moment Ms Steere said that viewing the night sky is spectacular.
“Winter is fabulous for the Milky Way – it’s right overhead and there is so much to see,” she said.
“You can view the tail of the Scorpion, the Southern Cross and the Jewel Box which has some coloured stars,” she said.
