Public Observatory In Christchurch Suggested

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31989, 16 May 1969, Page 8

Public Observatory In Christchurch Suggested

Canterbury astronomers have tended to concentrate on research rather than on catering for the general public, according to the retiring president of the Canterbury Astronomical Society (Mr R. W. Evans).

In his annual report Mr Evans suggests that a complex similar to the Auckland Observatory should be established in, say, Hagley Park. If this comprised a large telescope in a dome, an adjoining lecture room seating 150 to 200 persons, and a library, Christchurch would have excellent facilities for instructing people in astronomy. Mr Evans said he was impressed with the trouble amateur astronomers In various parts of New Zealand took to talk astronomy to members of the public. A number of cities and towns with observatories made them available one night a week, and through this many people had spent an enjoyable, interesting and educational evening. “But this is not occurring on a large enough scale in ■Christchurch,” said Mr Evans.

“Of course we would need an enthusiastic and able team of lecturers, but I am convinced that there is sufficient talent in our society. It would be our biggest project yet, but a challenging one.” Mr Evans told “The Press” that he thought the observatory jtself could probably be built for perhaps $BOOO, and the feasibility of the scheme would largely depend on the availability of a suitable telescope. Even though it might be intended primarily for demonstration purposes rather than serious observation, it would need to be fairly large “to get through all the murk.” A small telescope was of little use in a city.

A new instrument might cost as much as $lB,OOO with its mounting, but the society might be able to find a suitable telescope and make the mounting for a fraction of this figure. Hagley Park would have two advantages as a site, Mr Evans said. Apart from being central, so people could get to it easily, it could be fairly well shielded from direct city lighting. The suggestion of providing observatory facilities for the general public had yet to be given serious consideration in Christchurch, said Mr Evans, but he hoped that what was available in Wanganui and even in Whakatane would eventually be offered to the public here;