Mt Stromlo Observatory

This weekend’s walk with my camera was pre-planned. I’d booked my spot on the tour a month ago.

Mt Stromlo holds site tours every few months and they are well worth attending. There’s more standing than walking, but you get to see inside buildings normally closed to visitors. The guide was great. The tours are free.

The 2003 fires destroyed all the telescopes and most of the buildings. Not everything is being replaced. The site was heritage listed before the fires, and that limits what can be done to the remains of the existing buildings. However, the biggest issue is the proximity to the increasingly bright lights of Canberra. The fires were an opportunity to redirect the institution’s focus. Who knew Canberra has a space program!