Sutherland Astronomical Society
Encyclopedia
Sutherland Astronomical Society Incorporated is an amateur astronomical society
based in the Sutherland Shire
, in the southern suburbs of Sydney
, Australia
.
at Kurnell (a suburb in the Sutherland Shire) after successfully observing a transit of Venus
from Tahiti
.
The Society obtained Council land at Oyster Bay
and commenced construction on the Green Point Observatory
, the first stage of which, consisting of a dome and library, was completed in 1969.
The observatory was extended in 1974 when a meeting hall was added, and further extended in 1997 when the roll-off roof observatory was added, and further in 2007 when the two buildings were merged, and the meeting hall extended, toilet added and kitchen improved.
The JCAC merged with the Pacific Astronomical Society in 1972 and the name was changed to the James Cook Astronomical Society. The name was further changed to Sutherland Astronomical Society in 1978 to further identify the society in the geographical area in which it is located. The Society was incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act and the word "Incorporated" was added to the name.
The Society was instrumental in the formation of the National Australian Convention of Amateur Astronomers
(NACAA) and co-hosted conventions in Katoomba (1966), Canberra
(1967), Sydney
(1988) and Penrith
(2008) and sole hosts in 1998 at Sutherland
.
and was adopted in 1979 and updated in 2008.
Astronomical society
There are numerous groups devoted to promoting astronomy research and education. See, for example:* Amateur Astronomers Association Delhi * Amateur Astronomers Association of New York * Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh...
based in the Sutherland Shire
Sutherland Shire
The Sutherland Shire is a Local Government Area in the Southern Sydney region of Sydney, Australia. Geographically, it is the area to the south of Botany Bay and the Georges River...
, in the southern suburbs of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
History
The Society was formed in June 1961, and was then known as the James Cook Astronomers Club (JCAC), named after Captain James Cook, English explorer who first landed in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
at Kurnell (a suburb in the Sutherland Shire) after successfully observing a transit of Venus
Transit of Venus
A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, becoming visible against the solar disk. During a transit, Venus can be seen from Earth as a small black disk moving across the face of the Sun...
from Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
.
The Society obtained Council land at Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay, New South Wales
Oyster Bay is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Oyster Bay is located 26 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the Sutherland Shire.-Location:...
and commenced construction on the Green Point Observatory
Green Point Observatory
Green Point Observatory is a private observatory in Oyster Bay, Sydney, Australia, and is the home of the Sutherland Astronomical Society. It is located at the corner of Green Point and Caravan Head Roads. It consists of a dome, library, 41cm Newtonian telescope, a meeting hall seating 100 people,...
, the first stage of which, consisting of a dome and library, was completed in 1969.
The observatory was extended in 1974 when a meeting hall was added, and further extended in 1997 when the roll-off roof observatory was added, and further in 2007 when the two buildings were merged, and the meeting hall extended, toilet added and kitchen improved.
The JCAC merged with the Pacific Astronomical Society in 1972 and the name was changed to the James Cook Astronomical Society. The name was further changed to Sutherland Astronomical Society in 1978 to further identify the society in the geographical area in which it is located. The Society was incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act and the word "Incorporated" was added to the name.
The Society was instrumental in the formation of the National Australian Convention of Amateur Astronomers
National Australian Convention of Amateur Astronomers
The National Australian Convention of Amateur Astronomers is a biennial national forum for amateur astronomy in Australia.In 1966 two enthusiastic amateur astronomical groups, the James Cook Astronomers Club and the Canberra Astronomical Society met in Katoomba to discuss holding an astronomy...
(NACAA) and co-hosted conventions in Katoomba (1966), Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
(1967), Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
(1988) and Penrith
Penrith, New South Wales
Penrith is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Penrith is located west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Penrith...
(2008) and sole hosts in 1998 at Sutherland
Sutherland, New South Wales
Sutherland is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Sutherland is located 26 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Sutherland Shire....
.
Logo
The Society logo is the galaxy NGC2997 in AntliaAntlia
Antlia is a constellation in the southern sky. Its name means "pump" and it specifically represents an air pump. The stars comprising Antlia are faint, and the constellation was not created until the 18th century...
and was adopted in 1979 and updated in 2008.
Discoveries
Members of the Society have made the following discoveries:- Comet 1998 P1/Williams discovered by life member Peter Williams on 10 August 1998.
- Comet 1999 H1/Lee discovered by member Steven Lee in March 1999.
- Nova V382 VelorumV382 VelorumV382 Velorum was a bright nova, which occurred in 1999 in the southern constellation Vela. V382 Velorum reached a brightness of 2.6 mag. It was discovered by astronomers in Brazil.-External links:* http://www.institutocopernico.org/cartas/v382velb.gif...
by life member Peter Williams on 23 May 1999 (independently co-discovered by P. Williams and A. Gilmore)
Past presidents
- 1961 - 1964: Keith Selby
- 1965 - 1966: Frank Napier
- 1967: Leo Klingen
- 1968: Arthur Northwood
- 1969: Keith Selby
- 1970 - 1971: Elaine Polglase
- 1972 - 1978: Mark Rea
- 1979 - 1988: Greg Hayward
- 1988 - 1990: Bill Witton
- 1991 - 1993: Rolando De Michiel
- 1994: Roger North
- 1995 - 1996: Christopher Toohey
- 1997: Bill Witton
- 1998 - 1999: Les Dalrymple
- 2000 - 2006: Brett McMillan
- 2007 - 2008: Brett Parker
- 2009: Loui Pagano
Public outreach
The Society conducts the following events by way of public outreach:- Public Star Viewing nights, usually in March and August.
- Group bookings and star parties
- Practical astronomy education courses (called SASPAC)