ATNF outreach

A webcam for Parkes

In June 2005, a webcam was installed at the Parkes telescope to illustrate the telescope operations. A computer takes a snapshot of the telescope every 30 seconds and uploads this image to the ATNF's public outreach web pages http://outreach.atnf.csiro.au. The images of the past 24 hours are stored, and once every hour a time-lapse movie is made and provided for download, illustrating the last 24 hours at Parkes in just under two minutes.

Before the camera could be installed it was examined for radio frequency interference, or RFI, which has to be shielded from the telescope. Containing a self-contained computer operating at several MHz clock speed, the webcam was found to emit an entire spectrum of radio lines, and a suitable Faraday cage was built. The camera's network connection was converted to optical fibres inside the cage, and the window for the lens was electrically terminated using a piece of glass with a conductive layer of indium tin oxide.

The time-lapse movies can be entertaining and instructive. Kangaroos have been spotted grazing in the early morning, receiver changes are a regular sight and, being sensitive enough to detect objects of magnitude zero or brighter, the occasional interesting constellation of moon, planets and stars can be seen.

News from the Parkes Visitors Centre

The Parkes Observatory blasted off into National Science Week in August with a Double Helix Science Club Rocket Day. Over 40 keen children and about 20 parents learnt how to build and launch several types of rockets. Among the most popular were the water rockets and film-canister rockets powered by vinegar and bicarbonate soda. Local camera shops have noted a strong increase in requests for film canisters since the rocket day as young rocket scientists put their new-found skills to work. The event supported both National Science Week and CSIRO's Double Helix Club.

Despite a downturn in tourism and concern over the impact of high fuel prices, visitor numbers and spending remained strong at the Parkes Visitors Centre over the September and October school holiday season. Visitor numbers over the holiday period slightly exceed last year's numbers with over 13,500 visitors in September and almost 4,000 visitors over the four-day October long weekend.

The Visitors Centre staff did a great job coping with the numbers and high sales, paying particular attention this holiday season to talking to visitors. This will pay dividends in awareness of the ATNF and CSIRO and support for the continued development of both the ATNF's visitors centres at Parkes and Narrabri.

Visitors were willing to spend up big on watching shows at the theatres, and on souvenirs, science toys and books. Sales over the October long weekend were 25% higher than for previous October long weekends, with Sunday being the biggest sales day ever, and exceptionally high sales during September. Sales of books are up 40% hopefully pointing to visitors wanting to continue their learning after their visit.

Enno Middelberg and John Smith
(Enno.Middelberg@csiro.au and John.M.Smith@csiro.au)