SCOOP; A Timeline of Our Public Outreach Astronomy - 2016 to 2023. And What's Next?
Updated: Aug 23
The original idea of the Southern Cross Outreach Observatory Project (SCOOP) was to build a test platform taking astronomy outreach to the regional and remote communities in Australia and push the limits of a possibility of doing it with an actual, purpose-built mobile astronomical observatory.
The observatory was designed to be just the right size for the road, yet sturdy enough to travel huge distances across the sunburnt country. SkyShed POD was chosen for this purpose and a dual axle trailer was built around it. The designing phase took nearly a year with calculations of wind loading, aerodynamics, and weight distribution perfected before ordering the trailer designed to specifications. The observatory was secured with 12 high tensile bolts to the trailer frame, and the roof of the dome secured with chain anchors.
The observatory rolled out of our driveway in Smithfield on June 18, 2016 as Australia's first purpose-built mobile observatory for its first test run on local streets.
The biggest test - the highway run - was yet to come, and I was still skeptical and anxious about the prospect. The thing was designed for 'rough seas' but all the maths and engineering was yet to test the waters. This was when Mehdi, an avid astronomer from Pakistan, with his sheer experience of public outreach astronomy in Pakistan's more remote corners offered to join in.
Mehdi arrived in August 2016 and we were ready for the observatory's first highway run to Port Augusta and Andamooka.
First Public Outreach - Port Augusta and Andamooka SA - Aug 2016
Port Augusta
(From original post) On 30th August 2016, we officially launched the Southern Cross Outreach Observatory Project by conducting our first ever outreach astronomy event in Port Augusta, SA. Special thanks to Cherie Gerlach for organizing a perfect venue for star gazing under clear skies of Arid Lands Botanical Garden. The night session could not last long due to clouds but early birds did enjoy beautiful view of Saturn and Omega Centauri globular cluster through our telescopes.
Andamooka
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On our first outreach astronomy run, we arrived Andamooka next day. Special thanks to Gill Rowley of Andamooka Press for arranging this venue at camping ground. The sky was clear and seeing was optimal. Public response was very encouraging and people took active interest in this idea of outreach astriionomy with a mobile observatory.
National Science Week Aug 2017 - Mildura, Broken Hill, Port Augusta
We decided to become part of the bigger picture and join the National Science Week 2017.
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Finally concluded the second ambitious run of interstate public outreach astronomy, this time for National Science Week 2017. The mobile observatory travelled through 3 states, and carried out public sky viewing in Mildura (Victoria) on16th Aug, Broken Hill (New South Wales) on 17th Aug, and Port Augusta (South Australia) on 19th Aug, travelling nearly 1500km. At the end of this excursion, Southern Cross Outreach Observatory Project - SCOOP has clocked 2600km since its launch and is going strong.
Mildura
(From original post) First stop of the interstate circuit for public outreach astronomy on 16th August 2017. Special thanks to Sharryn Wilson and Micheal of the Benetook Farm, Emmie Dowling of ABC Mildura Swan Hill, Tyrone Dalton and Louise Donges of Sunraysia Daily for covering the story.
Broken Hill
Port Augusta
Joint Public Outreach Astronomy at Woomera - Oct 2017
When you are out there with your big telescopes, you make some crazy new friends - with big telescopes!
Richard and Rebecca have been running the Woomera-Baker Observatory for public outreach for more than a decade. So we decided to join forces and conduct a joint public outreach event in the remote corner of SA - Woomera
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Our first joint public outreach astronomy with Woomera-Baker Observatory on 21st Oct 2017. Special thanks to Bec, Richard and Padraic, and the visitors for making this event a success. Woomera, roughly 480 km north of Adelaide, is an airforce base and residential town, and an aerospace testing facility. It is also the most likely candidate as the launch site for prospective Australian National Space Agency. At the end of this excursion, Southern Cross Outreach Observatory Project - SCOOP has clocked around 3700 km on Australian roads since its launch in 2016.
National Science Week 2018 - The Biggest Run So Far
(Port Augusta --> Andamooka --> Mildura --> Nangiloc --> Mildura --> Broken Hill)
(From original post) Our public outreach astronomy for National Science Week 2018 kicked in with our event in Arid Lands Botanical Garden, Port Augusta on 12th August. There was substantial overcast in the afternoon making it difficult to see the Sun. There were no sunspots on the Sun, so view from 8 inch dobs with white light filter was a bit discouraging. Padraic Koen saved the day with his 60mm H-Alpha telescope which resolved the prominences on the surface of the Sun. Public took great interest in seeing the solar activity with PK's telescope. He explained to public the science behind the formation of prominences. Sky started to clear up after sunset and seeing conditions became average. We showed the planets (Mars and Jupiter) and globular cluster Omega Centauri through Celestron C11 mounted inside the observatory. It is hard to estimate the turnout, but 150 people would be a reasonable guess. We are extremely thankful to Bernie and other admin members of Arid Lands Botanical Garden for all their help and support.
Andamooka
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Next day, we reached Andamooka, a remote Opal mining town in South Australia. This is our second visit to the town and was extremely well received. The sky was pristine and offered great views of Sun through PK's solar telescope in the day time and planets and deep sky objects from observatory at night. The objects in focus for night time astronomy were Mars, Saturn and Jupiter. We also had brief view of crescent moon through the 8 inch dobs outside observatory. People were mesmerized by the rings of Saturn and the Great Red Spot on Jupiter. Most people were able to identify the polar ice caps on Mars and some surface features. Later in the session, we also witnessed one of the Jovian moons passing in front of Jupiter. Bec and Richard of Woomera Observatory were present too and greatly facilitated the viewing of globular cluster and other deep sky objects through the manual 8 inch dobsonian. Charlie brought his coffee van to the venue; hot coffee is all too important ingredient for a public astronomy on a cold night indeed. Bonfire and curries made on wood fire added flavor to the night. We are especially thankful to Conan Fahey, a resident of Andamooka, and the architect of Andamooka Observatory Project for making this event an immense success. We hope to be back in Andamooka in future too. Here is a timelapse video by Travis Lonelyoak of the progress of viewing. https://www.facebook.com/bob.oak.106/posts/2024038551236545
Nangiloc-Colignan & District Primary School
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On the first day of second leg of the run for National Science Week 2018, we reached Nangiloc-Colignan & District Primary School on 19th August. School Principal Mr Ben Crum has been proactive in engaging the students into sky viewing and had arranged a bus trip from Nangiloc to Mildura on our last public outreach at Mildura in 2017. The kids were a bit disappointed for not seeing Sun through telescope due to overcast. So we made a promise to especially come to Nangiloc in future, so here we were. We had a limited viewing of Sun through PK's H-Alpha Solar telescope due to patches of clouds. The observatory was set up in the school's cricket ground, where we were met by ABC Mildura -Swan Hill team for a report (link below). At sunset, the sky cleared up and we had good views of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Moon from Celestron C11 telescope inside observatory as well as PK's small ETX-90 outside. Roughly 50-70 people showed up, mostly kids and parents and enjoyed the sky viewing.
Mildura
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Next day, we set up at SRS Benetook Farm for day time solar viewing and night time astronomy. This is the second time we have been here. Sky was clear and viewing was great. The Sun however did not offer any sunspots for an interesting view with our 8 inch telescope with white light filter. But PK's H-Alpha telescope showed some nice flares and activity on the surface of Sun. 50-70 people enjoyed the views of Sun the daytime. At night, we enjoyed clear skies for most part of the viewing session. There was a sizable attendance of over 300 people for night time viewing. People had good views of Jupiter from observatory and Saturn from PK's telescope. Viewing of Mars was marred by the obscuring of its surface features due to ongoing global dust storm there. We thank Sharryn Wilson of SRS Benetook Farm and Dawn Johnston of Mildura Council for their support. We also thank teams of Mildura Weekly and Sunraysia Daily for their excellent coverage of the event.
Broken Hill
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On the last day of our outreach for National Science Week 2018, we reached Broken Hill and set up at Broken Hill Racecourse. We were here last year too. The sky was clear. Again, Sun did not have any sunspots to offer, however, PK H-Alpha Solar telescope was a blessing. Few campers from nearby camping site showed up and enjoyed views of the Sun. At night, around 70-100 people, mostly kids and their parents enjoyed views of Saturn and Jupiter from observatory and Saturn (next to bright gibbous moon) from PK's telescope. The last visitor, a camper from nearby site hung around for a little longer and we brought Omega Centauri, Carina Nebula and a few open clusters into view for him. We are thankful to Darrin Manuel of Broken Hill Council and Kevin Taylor of Broken Hill Racecourse for their support. We are also thankful to Rebekah and team of 999 ABC Broken Hill and Callum of Barrier Daily Truth for their coverage of the event.
National Science Week 2019
Loxton --> Jamestown --> Whyalla
Loxton
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23rd Aug 2019: We conducted public outreach astronomy in the grounds of Loxton High School. Padraic Koen conducted day time solar astronomy through his Lunt 60mm H-Alpha telescope and amazed the public with the views of solar prominences streaming on the tablet screen. Seeing was very good. The activity was mainly attended by school students and few families. Public was treated with views of Saturn, Jupiter, Omega Centauri and few other star clusters through our Celestron C-11 telescope on Skywatcher EQ8 mount inside the observatory. Nearly 50 people attended the day time solar astronomy session and nearly 40 attended the night time viewing. We are thankful to Sue Schultz of Loxton Council and Shannon Tootell of Loxton High School for facilitating the activity and helping to make it possible.
Jamestown
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Next day on 24th August, we travelled to Jamestown to conduct public outreach astronomy in Memorial Park Jamestown. Padraic Koen conducted day time solar astronomy through his Lunt 60mm H-Alpha telescope and amazed the public with the views of solar prominences streaming on the tablet screen. Seeing was a bit disappointing with nearly 50% cloud cover, which worsened to 100% cover in the evening and no viewing could be started. Trevor of Jamestown Lions Club and another local fellow kept people busy and warm with their donut and bbq trailers at the event. Public's enthusiasm was very encouraging as many people stayed around despite full cloud cover and drizzle, until 8:40pm when sky cleared up. We were able to point the telescope towards Jupiter and people were treated with good view of Jupiter and its Great Red Spot. Nearly 100 people attended the day time solar astronomy session and nearly 40 people who were still there by the time sky cleared up enjoyed the night time viewing. We are thankful to James of Jamestown Council and Trevor and the other mate with their food trailers for facilitating the activity and the public for their immense interest in the activity. We will definitely visit Jamestown again for astronomy outreach activities in future.
Whyalla
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Next day on 25th August, we drove the observatory to Whyalla and set up for astronomy outreach in Jubilee Park. Sky was clear and seeing was good. As usual, PK kept public busy with his views of solar prominences through H-Alpha telescope in the day time. Nearly 50-70 people viewed the Sun streamed on the screen. In the evening, over 100 people were treated with great views of Saturn, Omega Centauri, and Jupiter with Io casting its shadow on the planet. Public's enthusiasm for the astronomy outreach activity was very encouraging and Whyalla would definitely be one of our favourite destinations for astronomy outreach in future. We especially thank Gail Rostig of Whyalla Council and local astronomer Bert for bringing his Dobsonian to the event.
2020 COVID-19 Pandemic and the first hiatus
We had to retract from our annual outreach due to COVID-19 for over three years. This hiatus allowed us to explore the role of a mobile observatory with rapid access to the remotest reaches of the Australian outback with darkest skies as a powerful tool to detect very small 1-10 cm LEO debris. It was during this time we presented the concept to the Australian parliament, developed the Trace, Track and Tackle protocol for debris detection and mitigation, and secure a US patent for the technology.
Public Outreach Astronomy 2023 - Woomera and Andamooka
In 2023, Mehdi returned to Australia to help get SCOOP back on the road and resume the astronomy outreach.
This time we made a run to the familiar grounds of Woomera and Andamooka
Woomera
At Woomera-Baker Observatory. Any chance of setting up and do a proper star alignment was marred by the overcast. Waiting for a clear window.
Andamooka
The Second Hiatus - 2024 to 2026
The SCOOP's public outreach activities hit a snag again and had to go into a hiatus, but this time, it is more logistical. My old faithful rig (Nissan Patrol 2000)) is a quarter of a century old and is now on a return journey from the Moon (Odo 450,000km +). While I trust the observatory because I built it, unfortunately I cannot say the same for my Nissan. So until I upgrade the towing rig, I would be a bit fearful using it to tow the observatory to the remote outback. The observatory is currently parked at a local caravan storage and is not in use for now.
For me, there is a simple temporary solution. After the completion of the compound at our Lot 2 site in Port Paterson, SA, SCOOP will be permanently relocated there and will be used for public outreach there as well as yearly runs to the communities using the Lot 2 compound as a base. The Lot 2 compoung is expected to be completed some time in 2027 (currently awaiting completion of drafting and council approvals)
In the Tracks of the Explorers - the Journey Continues
Video link: https://youtu.be/jSvZb7TZmUE?si=q_NkTRfXPQ6C7o8S
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