Australia Telescope National Facility

Radio Astronomy at Dover Heights: Public Talk by Jessica Chapman

Macquarie University Building E7B

Rodney Reserve, on the cliff tops at Dover Heights in the eastern suburbs of Sydney was one of the most remarkable and important astronomical sites in New South Wales. Between 1946 and 1954, this former WWII radar station was the leading field station of the CSIRO Division of Radiophysics, and was home to a succession of different radio telescopes that were used to make outstanding advances in radio astronomy. Around 120 new radio sources were detected at Dover Heights. These were identified as gaseous nebulae in our own Galaxy, and as powerful sources of radio waves from distant galaxies. These discoveries showed that radio waves could be used to study the universe "from the solar system to the Cosmos" and firmly established Australia as a world leader in the emerging new science of radio astronomy. In this talk I will discuss the people who worked at Dover Heights, the instruments that they built and their scientific achievements. I will also show some pictures from a celebration held in July 2003, to open a scientific memorial on the site.

This talk is part of the Macquarie University Astronomy Open Night (organised by Alan Vaughan). Cost Adults $8, Children $4, families $20. The evening starts from 6 pm. The talk will begin around 7:30 pm.