Astronomy and Science Centre, Roll-off Roof Observatory, Hewitt Camera Observatory, Planetarium Theatre/Domed Observatory and TRAC telescopes
The Tamworth Regional Astronomy Club Inc (TRAC) was delighted to be accepted in 2016 by Tamworth Regional Council as a Section 355 Committee and allocated a portion of land via a lease arrangement at Victoria Park in the Tamworth Botanic Gardens precinct for the establishment of an Astronomy and Science Centre (A&SC) complex to house the Club's collection of large telescopes (see below for further details) and to serve as the location for TRAC meetings and events.
In April 2018, Council secured a grant from the NSW Government of $1.8 million towards the construction of the main A&SC building, which provides a large meeting/conference room and interactive display area, the Roll-off Roof Observatory to house the 36 inch Jos Roberts Telescope and many of the Club's larger telescopes as well as other infrastructure works at Victoria Park.
In 2020, Tamworth Regional Council allocated a further $460,000 from funds it had received from the Federal Government under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program to enable the completion of two additional stages of the Complex - a Split-roof Observatory to house the Club's historic 34 inch Hewitt Camera and the 6.7 metre Planetarium Theatre/Domed Observatory.
The Club is now raising funds to assist with the fit-out of the A&SC facilities to ensure the complex reaches its full potential as a scientific and major regional tourism attraction. If you can assist, please click the Donate Now! button above.
In April 2018, Council secured a grant from the NSW Government of $1.8 million towards the construction of the main A&SC building, which provides a large meeting/conference room and interactive display area, the Roll-off Roof Observatory to house the 36 inch Jos Roberts Telescope and many of the Club's larger telescopes as well as other infrastructure works at Victoria Park.
In 2020, Tamworth Regional Council allocated a further $460,000 from funds it had received from the Federal Government under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program to enable the completion of two additional stages of the Complex - a Split-roof Observatory to house the Club's historic 34 inch Hewitt Camera and the 6.7 metre Planetarium Theatre/Domed Observatory.
The Club is now raising funds to assist with the fit-out of the A&SC facilities to ensure the complex reaches its full potential as a scientific and major regional tourism attraction. If you can assist, please click the Donate Now! button above.
Rendered images courtesy of Tamworth Regional Council. Photos of the recently completed complex coming soon!
Rendered images courtesy of Tamworth Regional Council.
The Centre provides an important base for the Club's regular meetings, public observing nights, open days, educational activities, conferences, inter-club amateur astronomy gatherings and a host of related events.
The convenient location of the Centre on the north-eastern edge of Tamworth enables interested people, young and old, to learn more about the fascinating science of astronomy and view and photograph the wonders of the heavens directly though large telescopes. As we say at TRAC - "The sky is the limit!"
The 36 inch Jos Roberts Telescope
The Tamworth Regional Astronomy Club is indeed fortunate to be the owner of the magnificent Jos Roberts Telescope, a 36 inch, F4.9 folded Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount. This towering instrument, one of the biggest 'portable' telescopes in Australia, was acquired in 2015 by TRAC Life Members Warwick and Margie Schofield and donated to the Club. Warwick and Margie purchased the telescope from Mr Jos Roberts who constructed the instrument and their generous donation has equipped TRAC with a telescope which has enormous potential to generate a wide interest in astronomy across the region. The Jos Roberts Telescope will be in regular use on public viewing nights at the Victoria Park Roll-off Roof Observatory. Below are photos of this amazing telescope.
The 34 inch Hewitt Camera
In November 2016, the Club acquired the 34 inch Hewitt Camera. It is one of only two such Schmidt cameras built in 1962 as part of a multi-million pound British Government project to photograph earth orbiting satellites. It had been designed originally by Joseph Hewitt to photograph the British Blue Streak Rockets on test in Australia in the 1950s. The camera weighs 8½ tonnes and features a Grubb Parsons 34 inch mirror and correcting lens. The Hewitt’s twin is housed on display in the Science Centre at the former Royal Greenwich Observatory. The Hewitt Camera project to make the two camera/telescopes is believed to have cost some GBP £5.5 million. TRAC has converted the Hewitt Camera to a digital imaging system and provides live colour views of deep sky objects in a matter of seconds which can be projected onto a large screen in the main A&SC building. This instrument has enormous potential for serious astronomical research activities.
The restored Hewitt Camera in its new purpose-built split roof observatory at Victoria Park.
The 13 inch Robert Barnett Rigel Telescope
The Club has also been donated the 13 inch Robert Barnett Rigel Telescope. Built by the late Robert Barnett, an electronics engineer contracted to the British Defence Department, the telescope has a heavy German equatorial mount and is beautifully engineered. The primary mirror is likely a Grubb Parsons which for many years was one of the finest of optical engineering companies in the UK. We are extremely grateful to the Barnett family for their generous donation of this precision instrument to the Club.
The 16 inch Lowe Reflector Telescope
The owner of Lowe Observatory, Lindsay Lowe, has generously donated a 16 inch, F5 Newtonian telescope to TRAC. This telescope, which Lindsay used for many years in his private backyard observatory, has undergone a complete rebuild and will be installed at the A&SC complex. The telescope will be mounted on a heavy duty, computer controlled, Anssen Technologies Alhena German equatorial mount donated to TRAC by Brian Coote of Barraba, NSW. Brian has also donated a 10 inch Newtonian telescope to TRAC which can be used on the same mount and in other configurations. A sincere thank you to Lindsay and Brian for their generous donations to the Club.
The 16 inch Lowe telescope prior to restoration.
The rebuilt Lowe 16 inch Lowe telescope prior to the reinstallation of the instrument's optics.
The Anssen Technologies Alhena German equatorial mount which will be used for the Lowe 16 inch telescope.
The 10 inch Ian Hynes Meade LX200 GPS Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
TRAC member Ian Hynes (far right) has donated a 10 inch Meade LX200 GPS Schmidt Cassegrain telescope to the Club. This high quality, goto computer controlled instrument is an excellent telescope for both visual use and astro-imaging and is an important addition to the Club's collection of telescopes. Thank you Ian for your wonderful donation. A sincere thank you also to TRAC member Stephen Carter who constructed the professionally built mobile trolley to match the build quality of the telescope and to make the instrument easily transportable.
The 12.5 inch Stuart Goff Telescope
Constructed by TRAC founding member, the late Stuart Goff, this short focus telescope with premium optics on a computer controlled SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6 GT mount, has been designed as a high-quality, deep-sky photographic instrument. A sincere thank you to the Lions Club of Tamworth for donating funds to TRAC which enabled the purchase of this precision telescope.
