Telescopes In Use At Tekapo Observatory

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30442, 16 May 1964, Page 18

Telescopes In Use At Tekapo Observatory

Three astronomical instruments had now been mounted and their buildings completed at the Mount John University Observatory, Tekapo, the astronomer in charge (Mr F. M. Bateson) said this week. The observer’s quarters were also completed and he was living in them, he added. The Bin refracting telescope and 16in reflecting telescopes were in use; the astrograph was not, as there were insufficient staff to man three instruments and, in addition, the power conversion unit for the astrograph had yet to be installed. The only other building planned to be completed before winter comprised the quarters for visiting astronomers and residence for the astronomer in charge, together with garages. This building is now at the framing stage. Work during the winter, Mr Bateson said, would be confined to a small amount of inside work. Next spring the first consideration would be the improvement of the access road. Borings to determine

■1 the nature and depth of the I i base for the road are now I being made. . q The building for the 18in was also planned to • be started in the spring, and • j should be ready about the “same time as the observation being prepared for it , The telescope had already ! 1 arrived from America. > Mr Bateson will leave early 1 in July on a world tour, ■ mainly to have discussions • in the United States on future s building and programmes, s and to attend the meeting of • the International Astronomical Union in Hamburg. Dur- : ing his absence the observa- • tory’s programme . will be : limited to meteorological ob- • servations, as it is not expected that the first of the staff •jfrom the University of Pennsylvania will arrive until Mr J Bateson’s return. The Univer■lsity of Pennsylvania is partner in the project with the ’ University of Canterbury.