Visit to Parkes Radio Telescope

This weekend we decided to get out of town for a few days and head out for a little science education. The first place we visited was the Age of Fishes Museum in Canowindra, NSW.  It really is an amazing place full of very rare fish fossils from the Devonian period that were unearthed in Canowindra in 1955.  If you’re in the area I highly recommend a visit!

From Canowindra it’s only hour to CSIRO’s Parkes Radio Telescope located just north of Parkes, NSW, so how could we resist? Continue reading

MSL, Curiosity & the CDSCC

On 26 November 2011, in the early hours of a Sunday morning, I gathered with a group of like minded space ‘nerds’ as a part of the CSIRO Tweetup weekend at the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex (CDSCC), to watch the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) launch event.  Eventually, after what seemed like a very long countdown, an Atlas V rocket, with the MSL stowed safely, blasted its way into space, and commenced its long journey to Mars. We marvelled at the technology, shed a few tears, had a few celebratory drinks and headed back to our respective homes to join the real world.

CSIROTweetup Nov 2011  (Image Credit: Martin Ollman)

Forward 8 months and many of the same like minded space ‘nerds’ gathered at the CDSCC for their next space adventure. This time we were all there to watch the MSL land safely after it’s long journey. Or at least we hoped it would land safely.  I took the day off work, packed the compulsory phones (a virtually pointless activity considering the CDSCC is strictly a radio quiet area), iPad, and camera.  After a short drive we arrived at the complex. Early. A full 5 hours before the scheduled landing time.  I’d waited 8 months for this event, and I wasn’t going to miss a moment!

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