The Telescopes at the Grove Creek Observatory

                      Short Summary: (click for direct links)

C14 Public Remote Internet Telescope System:

In May 2008, the C14 was removed from the Main Dome and installed on a Astro-Physics GTO-1200 remote internet controlled mount, in our newly completed robotic sliding roof Middle Observatory. As we have extensive information on this telescope, we have a dedicated web page for it.

This telescope is available for public use - please click here for full technical details.

THE CELESTRON C-14" (36cm) SCHMIDT CASSEGRAIN
When used for Public tours - a unique history!
Celestron Pacific C14 Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
Aperture: 36cm (14")  Focal Length: 3,910mm  Focal Ratio: f/11

Click here to watch a video about the C14, before it was upgraded.

This is the most outstanding instrument at the Grove Creek Observatory. With a focal length of 3,910mm, this telescope is used for high resolution objects. Being a Schmidt Cassegrain, it provides a higher contrast than even larger Newtonian telescopes. The C14 was built in 1971 and was the 5th model made by the "Celestron Pacific" telescope company, using the original sturdy "sand-cast" rigid fork (original grey and orange OTA paint scheme). Its 36cm primary mirror is of an exceptional high optical standard - going beyond testing equipment that could measure an accuracy of 1/10 wavelength of light. The C14 can operate visually at f/11 or f/7 and can be configured with huge a variety of combinations for different types of astrophotography and CCD imaging. The old fork base was mounted on a home-made 60kgs equatorial wedge, constructed from 2 x 23mm stainless steel plates. This was attached to massive pier in the main dome, driven 6 metres into the ground and totally isolated - with no part of the building touching it. The pier is 50cm in diameter and constructed with a solid steel core of 18cm diameter, surrounded by concrete and sealed with a large gas pipe on the outside.

The C14 at Grove Creek has its own fame, as many live astronomical events were recorded with special video cameras attached, including live images of the Shoemaker-Levy Comet hitting Jupiter in July 1994, that were shown via a live satellite feed throughout the world on Australian and international TV, including CNN, the BBC and Channel 7. Well over 10,000 people viewed Halley's Comet through this telescope when it was installed at Grove Creek in 1985. Many professional and amateur astronomers that visited Grove Creek, were often amazed with the optics of this telescope. 

In 1997, extensive electrical upgrades were made by Christopher Ralph and Steven Williams, to replace the old original Right Ascension AC clock tracking (abbrev. "RA" - the east/west movement) and the DC Declination motor (abbrev. "DEC" - the north/south movement) with a home-made Z-80 processor controlled stepping motor control system. For the first time on such an old mount, high magnification "auto-guiding" astrophotography and the early days of astronomical CCD imaging was then made possible with this system, using one of the first stand-along SBIG ST-4 CCD autoguider. The periodical error of the mount was only 8 arc seconds, which was remarkable, considering its age and that it was never designed for such an advanced role. Along with the electronic tracking upgrades, a Celestron Astro-Master computerised digital setting circle was also installed, to make finding objects a breeze. An innovation that was never even dreamed of, when the mount was designed in the late 60's! Previously, tedious sightings had to be read from old mechanical setting circles attached to the mount. Grove Creek was one of the first observatories to use and develop a SBIG ST-4 CCD autoguider and stunning film photos were achieved as a result.

Then two disasters struck... In 1999, one of the most severe storms ever seen in the area totally blew the entire 300kgs dome off its rails, driving it into the telescope's mount and destroyed the delicate RA gearing system and mounting hardware for the optical encoders. However, even with such amazing force, the optics of this ruggedly built telescope didn't even loose collimation! Fortunately (and very generously) Celestron, understanding that this particular telescope was of special vintage, re-built the RA gear system at no charge and the dome was modified so that such an horrible incident could never happen again. However, to the complete dread of everyone involved with Grove Creek, a violent electrical strike directly hit the C14 in 2002, which not only caused massive damage to most of the electrical devices and appliances throughout the observatory but totally destroyed both the home-made drive controller, Astro-Master and optical encoders. Parts for the previous home-made 1997 drive system were no longer available, so it was replaced with a third-party commercial computerised duel stepping motor drive system. The Celestron Astro-Master was replaced with a Argo Navis digital setting circle computer, with RS2-232 planetarium control functions and 10,000 ticks/rev encoders, from Wildcard Innovations from 2002 - 2008.

In May 2008, the C14 was moved into the new Middle Observatory on a fully remote internet controlled GOTO mount and the old fork mount was removed from the main pier. (Despite many email requests, we will never sell the original fork mount).

Meade 30.5cm (12") LX-200 "Classic Model":
   
SBIG ST-9XE CCD imaging telescope system.
Focal Length = 1,750mm Aperture = 300mm Focal Ratio = f/5.83
FOV: 20.1^min square. Image Scale=2.36^secs/pixel
R V B C I photometric filters installed.
  This telescope is for astrometric / photometric studies only! 

The primary mission for this telescope - part of NASA's Space Guard Program.

This telescope is not for "pretty pictures" of nebula etc - it is not designed for this role - please use the Celestron C-14 instead. Satellite Internet is very costly at this location. PLEASE DON'T WASTE IT! This telescope is strictly for research purposes. The filters installed, are not designed for colour combination, they are true photometric research filters.

The 12" Meade LX-200 "Classic Model" and ST-9XE CCD camera, is used for astrometric/photometric work. This telescope was previously used from June 2004 to January 2007 for the Wheaton Internet Telescope Project with a SBIG ST-8XE CCD camera. The Wheaton Project replaced this telescope with a much more reliable model, after many problems with blown electronics and faulty GOTO motors, slewing from west back to east, for well over 18,000 hours non-stop, as the tracking could not be turned off without the telescope's internal computer losing its known position in the sky. It was previously used at Wheaton College in Massachusetts by their students. As a gift for the hard work that Steven had given over the years, Prof. Tim Barker from Wheaton College, donated this telescope. It was repaired and then moved in 2009 to a new pier (donated by Greg Ford) in the Middle Observatory.

Despite the known problems with the GOTO motors of these models (Meade Instruments no longer supply or repair them but there are some after market alternatives), some of these old telescopes can have very good optics. This 12" is one of the very early "Classic" models (which can be seen by the lack of a "step" in the base of the GOTO motor assembly) - but it was also discovered to have a split gasket ring and breakage in the secondary mirror housing, making it impossible to collimate. After searching the "buy and sell" markets, Steven was able to pick up a trashed 12" secondary mirror holder and replaced it. After collimation, it was a very pleasant surprise that this telescope had exceptional optics! It was put to very good use as a photometric/astrometric telescope with a very sensitive SBIG ST-9XE Class 1 CCD camera, Meade motorised microfocuser, SBIG CFW8a 5 position filter wheel (currently on long term loan from Wheaton College) with RVBCI photometric filters  (donated by AAVSO) and an Optec NextGEN 0.5X focal reducer (currently on loan from Andrew Mattingly). The use of a 2" star diagonal enables imaging right to the South Celestial Pole.

Although a smaller chip (width only) than the SBIG ST-8, the large pixels provide a good combination for sensitivity and short exposure times for photometric work (variable stars), which is fortunate as the RA is limited to a maximum of 1 minute unguided exposure at Zero DEC. However, that will easily detect up to 20th magnitude. In fact, many new minor planet discoveries have been made on this telescope by users all around the world, including Paul Camilleri who works with Grove Creek for the vital search of NEOs (Near Earth Orbit Crossing Asteroids).  This telescope is also extensively used by the AAVSO and others via the SkyLive internet telescope service. So far, over 680 reportable observations and discoveries have been made on it to the minor planet center!

Astrodon Schuler Photometric Research rVbiC filters:

The 5 filter positions for the SBIG CFW8a filter wheel are: 1-Rs, 2-V, 3-Bu, 4-Is, 5-Clear
The drop down filter selection box in the software lists them as r V b i C D (D = Dark Frame)

These filters used for photometric studies and are based upon Bessell's 1992 modification of the Johnson-Cousins design.
RVBCI filters donated by the American Association of Variable Star Observers.

This telescope is available for public use for photometric/astrometric studies
Click here for full information

  
Remote Declination WebCam + LED light for remote syncing. Using a 2" star diagonal, allows for clearance to pole!

Meade 25cm (10") LX-200 GPS Model.

Dedicated SBIG STL-1001E CCD Internet remote controlled system
AP=250mm FL= 2,760mm FR=f/11.04 FOV=30.6^min square.
 Array= 1024x1024 @ 24microns/pixel. Image Scale=1.79^sec/pixel
See our Wheaton Telescope Web Page for details.

This telescope is owned by Steven Williams and is a non-modified early "classic" model, still in mint condition. Hand picked by Meade - it has lovely optics. It is currently being used as a viewing instrument for staff and visiting astronomers at Grove Creek, as all other telescopes are dedicated CCD imaging instruments only. From January 2009, this telescope has been installed in the main dome until such time as the dome electronics can be upgraded to automatically track the sky, with a telescope. This telescope has it's own field tripod and Meade Super Wedge and can be moved back to one of the sliding roof observatories at any time, allowing the better wind protection qualities of a dome for larger telescopes, when it is eventually upgraded. We are still waiting on funds, control boards, software and encoders to do this - both the dome and shutters are already motorised.

20cm (8") f/7 Newtonian Telescope:
  
 (Mounted on  "Samson" Equatorial Mount LEFT, Sturdy wooden Dobson Mount RIGHT)

The 8" (20cm) f/7 Newtonian telescope provides a nice contrast and compliments the larger telescopes at Grove Creek. Being one of the most common type and size of a serious amateur telescope, this telescope is provided as a "learning tool" for visitors at Grove Creek, who may be thinking of starting the hobby of astronomy and what they can expect from a (comparably affordable) and portable instrument. This telescope can be placed on an German Equatorial Mount (which tracks the movements of stars) or on a common Dobson Mount, to enable those people that are not used to a telescope, to just roam the skies with. A telescope like this with a Dobson (non-tracking) mount, is a good "starter telescope" and simple models can start from around AUD$700, without accessories. The equatorial mount shown is known as a "Samson Mount" are no longer made any more but used to be a very popular mount available from Astro Optical, in Sydney, Australia.

Small Radio Telescope:

The Small Radio Telescope (S.R.T) uses a 2.3m diameter dish driven by an altitude/azimuth computer control drive system with an FFT based radio spectrometer receiver operating between 1370 - 1800 MHz to make various radio astronomy observations including the 21 cm (1420 MHz) spin flip line of atomic hydrogen. The receiver uses digital technology with a 8-bit analogue to digital down converter, digital signal processor (DSP) and is controlled remotely using a STAMP microprocessor and RS-232 communications. Projects are submitted by users in the astronomical community, where the resulting data is passed on over the internet for further study.

Jove Riometer:

HOME PAGE