Talbot Observatory

Background

Talbot Observatory was designed and built by Robert Holmes in 2002 for personal use. However, it became apparent that there was a demand from the public to access the observatory and to increase their knowledge about astronomy and the universe. Robert decided to open the observatory to the public in 2003. Robert has had an interest in astronomy for 50 years, he has a degree in astronomy from Swinburne University (2003).

History

The observatory was completed in 2002. It was opened to the public in 2003 and there has been a strong response with many visitors. However, Robert Holmes became a mining engineer and took a mining job from 2008 to 2014 and so the observatory was closed for 6 years. Upon Robert's return home in January 2015, the observatory was re-opened to the public again.

Site

Talbot Observatory, 9 Camp Street, Talbot, Victoria 3371 Designed and built by Robert Holmes at the rear of the former Talbot Courthouse. (built 1866)

The Talbot Observatory is open every Friday and Saturday. (winter 7pm, Summer 9pm) Entry fee is $10 per person, or $25 per family.

Innovations

See the night sky as you have never seen it before, far from city lights. Look at globular clusters that contain a million stars 75,000 light years distant, huge nebulae where stars and planets are born, study red, blue and yellow stars. Marvel at the wonders of our solar system; like our Moon's craters, mountains and valleys. See other planets close-up- lovely Saturn with its ring system, giant Jupiter and its cloud belts and family of moons, the crescent Venus, and Mars's ice caps. Be guided around the night sky by laser pointer, have all your questions about planets, stars, pulsars, black holes and the Big Bang answered.

Community Involvement

Robert has been very active in the community, serving on the kinder committee, the Talbot tourism committee, the library committee, the Talbot today and tomorrow committee, and the Talbot action inc group. The observatory has held special events for the community, when unusual astronomical events take place such as cometary visits, transits of Mercury or Venus, Lunar or Solar eclipses etc.

See also

http://www.talbotobservatory.com.au

External Links

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--Sallyanne Doyle 17:16, 10 February 2013 (EST)