# Bad news for astronomers

**URL:** http://discourse.iapct.org/t/bad-news-for-astronomers/1543
**Category:** CSG2003
**Created:** [January 26, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/bad-news-for-astronomers/1543 "2003-01-26T14:30:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Bill\_Powers](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Bill\_Powers](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Bill_Powers)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/bad-news-for-astronomers/1543/1 "2003-01-26T14:30:12Z")

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[From Bill Powers (2003.01.26.0723 MST)]

For those who have some fondness for astronomy: the Mount Stromlo  
Observatory, oldest in Australia, was almost completely destroyed in the  
Canberra bush fires. All the big telescopes are gone (74-inch on down).  
Archives in one building are OK. A sad day.  
[http://skyandtelescope.com/news/current/article\_848\_1.asp](http://skyandtelescope.com/news/current/article_848_1.asp)

Best,

Bill P.

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### Author: ![Kenneth\_Kitzke\_Value](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenneth\_Kitzke\_Value](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Kenneth_Kitzke_Value)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/bad-news-for-astronomers/1543/2 "2003-01-26T16:12:29Z")

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[From Kenny Kitzke (2003.01.26)]

\<Bill Powers (2003.01.26.0723 MST)

\<For those who have some fondness for astronomy: the Mount Stromlo

Observatory, oldest in Australia, was almost completely destroyed in the

Canberra bush fires. All the big telescopes are gone (74-inch on down).

Archives in one building are OK. A sad day.\>

On a happier note, the pictures of the universe from the repaired Hubbell and other space probes are so superior to what such “big” earthbound telescopes can show us, the passing seems mostly nostalgic.

I am sad about the ever reduced number of posts and posters about behavior on CSGNet. I suppose astronomy or one’s purchase of a new house will just have to do, at least for a while. I am looking forward to the Conference and seeing you and the rest of the group again.

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### Author: ![Bruce\_Gregory3](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bruce\_Gregory3](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Bruce_Gregory3)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/bad-news-for-astronomers/1543/3 "2003-01-26T19:43:03Z")

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[From Bruce Gregory (2003.01.26.1442)]

Kenny Kitzke (2003.01.26)

> On a happier note, the pictures of the universe from the repaired  
> Hubbell and other space probes are so superior to what such "big"  
> earthbound telescopes can show us, the passing seems mostly nostalgic.

Forgive them Father, for they know not what they say.

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### Author: ![Bill\_Powers](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Bill\_Powers](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Bill_Powers)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/bad-news-for-astronomers/1543/4 "2003-01-26T22:51:01Z")

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> [From Bruce Gregory  
> (2003.01.26.1442)]
> 
> Kenny Kitzke (2003.01.26)
> 
> > On a happier note, the pictures of  
> > the universe from the repaired
> > 
> > Hubbell and other space probes are so superior to what such  
> > “big”
> > 
> > earthbound telescopes can show us, the passing seems mostly  
> > nostalgic.
> 
> Forgive them Father, for they know not what they say.  
> [From Bill Powers (2003.01.26.1546 MST)]

Right. In fact, with the new “adaptive optics” systems, which  
actually remove the optical effects of unsteady air, we’re now able to  
get pictures from the ground very nearly as good as those from the  
Hubble telescope. The latest Sky and Telescope shows pictures of clouds  
on Titan, a moon of Saturn. The disk of Titan is round and sharp –  
incredible.

Best,

Bill P.