SATELLITE TRACKING

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29956, 18 October 1962, Page 16

SATELLITE TRACKING

West Melton Site Bought A site at West Melton, on which an observatory for tracking satellites is to be built, has been bought by the Canterbury and Royal NewZealand Astronomical Societies. The site, of half an acre, is on a sandhill, 400 feet above sea level, free from the glow of city lights, near power and telephone lines and within two miles of a sealed road. When the Canterbury Astronomical Society was searching for a site, it was noticed particularly that the sky is much clearer at nights at West Melton and that there is no smog on winter nights. Mr R. F. Joyce, of Kaiapoi, who was a life member of the Canterbury Astronomical Society and a member of the Royal New Zealand Astronomical Society. left the bulk of his estate to be shared jointly by the two societies and to be Used for the erection of a satellite tracking observatory •in the South Island.

The Canterbury society will shortly be organising work parties to clear the site and erect buildings. The society is examining various apparatus for tracking satellites, and when the observatory building is cgmpleted it will also house the society's 1414inch telescope and the Joyce telescope.

Plans are now being prepared for other buildings on the site, including a meeting room and smaller rooms.