The Astronomical Society of Victoria has slammed a draft plan by the Royal Botanic Gardens to restore the 157-year-old observatory, saying it will ruin the view of the night sky
Victoria's leading astronomers are concerned plans to revitalise the Melbourne Observatory will "trash the joint", despite reassurances their views of the planets will be safe.
Astronomical Society of Victoria members Chris Rudge , Perry Vlahos, Rose Johnson, Jim Pollock and Dr Barry Clark fear for the future of the Melbourne Observatory.Gardens management says the plan will revitalise the observatory and restore it to its former glory, and will only improve the telescopes’ view.Perry Vlahos, president of the 1300-member astronomical society, says the reality is the plan will ruin what was once the centrepiece of science in Victoria.
“Making it into a venue that is going to be able to accommodate 5000 people, it’s basically going to be trashing the joint,” Mr Vlahos said.“They will need to have external lighting. They will need pavements. All these elements are incompatible with what telescopes need to function at their optimum.”
But light pollution from a growing city slowly ruined the view of the heavens and since 1945 it has not been used in a professional capacity. It still contains three telescopes in regular use by the astronomical society and the public. The society has also spent years painstakingly restoring the historic and huge Great Melbourne Telescope, planned to be re-installed soon.
“They are just thinking of the observatory as part of the gardens. And it never has been. They don’t have the right to be disrespectful to its borders or its prime activities,” he said.Gardens CEO Tim Entwisle said parts of the plan had already been presented to the astronomers some months ago. At the time, he said they had provided cautious support.
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