Marlborough observatory
The Carter Observatory, Wellington, will put a trial astronomical observatory at Black Birch, 48 kilometres south of Blenheim, as part of its New Zealandwide survey to find the most suitable place to establish a permanent outstation.
The site is on the Soil Conversation and Rivers Control Council research area and was formerly the site of an astronomical observatory built by the University of Pennsylvania in association with the University of Canterbury. Use of Black Birch could save the observatory as much as $200,000 in providing equivalent facilities at an unoccupied site. The change will enable the observatory to work at more than 10 times the height of the present Kelbum site in Wellington. The Kelburn observatory is affected by the low altitude, city sky-glow, and unfavourable weather, and is surrounded by higher ground. The shift to Black Birch is expected to increase the amount of useful night observation time about four times.- .
If no better site is found elsewhere in the country, Black Birch will become a permanent installation.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33857, 31 May 1975, Page 13
Word Count
171Marlborough observatory Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33857, 31 May 1975, Page 13
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