Anthony Horton

Huh, I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've seen a real estate listing for an astronomical observatory. It's the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope, a radio telescope that operated between 1965 and 2023. Along with the remains of the telescope you get a three bedroom fibro cottage, an administration building, a student residence, a workshop, a shed, an electrical hut, and 84 hectares of land.

One for @weirdestate , perhaps.

https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-hoskinstown-148894584

#Astrodon #Astronomy

Sep 8 at 10:27pmWeb
Show threadAnthony HortonSep 9
It's within commuting distance of Canberra, there's an RC aircraft club next door, and...
Show threadJudy SchmidtSep 9
@spacelizard the year is 2345. I am my great great great great great grandchild. I finally threw the last piece of metal from the old array into the weekly trash collection.
Show threadJulieSep 8
@spacelizard That's pretty cool.
Show threadPhilWillSep 8
@spacelizard @weirdestate wow. astronomy commune?
Show threadKate BowlesSep 8
@spacelizard @weirdestate @treleanor I feel @sundogplanets needs to know.
Show threadProf. Sam LawlerSep 8
@kate @spacelizard @weirdestate @treleanor I'm guessing they're selling it for more than an average astronomer could pay...
Show threadSteve's PlaceSep 8
@sundogplanets @kate @spacelizard @weirdestate @treleanor It's an auction. The estimated value is over $1 million, and the estimated monthly, with over $200K down, is around $5500/month. The biggest recent upgrade was the septic system. A working septic system, being priceless, probably means it will bid out at $2 million, lol.
Show threadStephen CollinsSep 9
@steter @sundogplanets @kate @spacelizard @weirdestate @treleanor +1 on working septics
Show threadEvan BeaverSep 8
@spacelizard Shut up and take my money
Show threadDragonFlameSep 8
@spacelizard @weirdestate
Somehow, that is sad, but at least it's not Stromlo. Yet.
Show threadAnthony HortonSep 9

@RHW @weirdestate Oh, Stromlo's not going anywhere anytime soon. There won't be a return of big astronomical research telescopes (the site isn't good enough) but there will continue to be teaching/outreach and satellite tracking telescopes there, and my colleagues at the Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre have plenty of work to do building instrument for big telescopes around the world.

The next big astronomical goodbye in Australia will probably be the closing down of the Anglo-Australian Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory. Funding is secure for the next two years of operations, and it may be possible to continue for a little while after that, but I think it's unlikely that it'll make it to 2030. That closure is going to hit me hard.

Show threadDragonFlameSep 9
@spacelizard @weirdestate
That is good news, have taken children, grandchildren and overseas visitors to Stromlo in past. Always a valuable and exciring experience. Glad it is still in safe Australian hands and control.
Sorry about Siding Springs, though.
Show threadAnthony HortonSep 9

@RHW @weirdestate If you haven't already done it I'd suggest visiting Siding Spring Observatory in the next few years, ideally during the StarFest event they do over the October long weekend. If you like visiting Stromlo you'd love the Siding Spring Open Day.

The observatory as a whole will keep going, supporting the smaller telescopes on site, but it won't be the same after the big one has closed down.

Show threadDragonFlameSep 9
@spacelizard @weirdestate It is not possible for me to travel anymore, but I will tell my family and they may be able to enjoy it.🙏
Show threadJamesAshburnerSep 8
@spacelizard @weirdestate Perfect for an “end of days” religious-obsessive commune to welcome the “Second Coming”, because Jesus would go for the ginormous crucifix.
And they would run sheep there, irresistible to the reincarnated Good Shepherd.
Show threadCySep 8
Can that stuff even be privately owned?? I'd think it would need to be a government project, at the very least!
The Molonglo Radio Observatory was established as part of the School of Physics of the University of Sydney
Yeah, looks like it's being auctioned off by that university. There aren't any info on the owners except a couple of scumbag real estate agents. Apparently the site also has a monument to radio astronomy pioneer Grote Reber, including his ashes!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molonglo_Observatory_Synthesis_Telescope

CC: @weirdestate@eigenmagic.net
Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope - Wikipedia

Show threadCySep 8
What would endlessly amuse me is if the University of Sydney has no idea about this, and the Merrimans are trying to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge.

CC: @spacelizard@aus.social
Show threadAnthony HortonSep 9

@cy @weirdestate Yeah, it was finally shut down a couple of years ago, this would be Sydney Uni trying to recover some of the costs.

https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/news-and-events/news/2023/11/02/farewell-to-an-icon--the-legacy-of-molonglo-telescope.html

Farewell to an Icon: The Legacy of Molonglo Telescope

The University of Sydney
Show threadacmSep 8
@spacelizard @weirdestate Hey, @sundogplanets , maybe you and your goats need an empire!
Show threadAnthony HortonSep 9
@acm_redfox @weirdestate @sundogplanets Or.... sooky dinosaur chickens!
Show threadN3VEMSep 8
@nars - see above - should we all pitch in for a clubhouse?
Show threadpenguin42Sep 8
@N3VEM @nars Does look like a good contest site, no one around to object to object to that HUGE aerial.
Show threadKlaus FrankSep 9

@spacelizard @weirdestate

Depending on how accurate those estimates shown on the page are (probably not at all considering they're sliders)

It wouldn't even be a bad deal either. Way cheaper than buying anything here in Frankfurt for sure...

Anyone know how many people are expected to be interested in this at the auction?

Otherwise would kinda be something to consider for one or the other #polycule (assuming you'd consider moving to Australia).

Show threadSu_GSep 9
@spacelizard
Bargain!! It’s not even that remote! “Located in close proximity to Bungendore (14kms) and Queanbeyan (26kms).” Can maybe even get home delivery there from Q or Canberra… 🙂
Show threadAnthony HortonSep 9
@Su_G It's basically within commuting distance to Canberra!
Show threadThe Ghost of Toots PassedSep 9
@spacelizard
Don't threaten me with a good time!
@weirdestate
Show threadDaveBSep 9
@spacelizard
I'm thinking this is something for @AstroPuNk ... 🙂
Show threadAstroPuNkSep 12
@daveburb @spacelizard oh how i wish!!!
Show threadcatraxx Sep 9
@spacelizard @weirdestate  wtf. that's awesome.
Show threadwarkolmSep 9

@spacelizard would it be hard to repurpose this to control the weather

asking for a friend

Show threadAndrew ElwellSep 9
@spacelizard @weirdestate
"NBN Unknown" but I wonder if it's on AARNet for a non-crap connection?
Show threadeuroplus Sep 11
@spacelizard @weirdestate is it still (or able to be made) operational?
Show threadAnthony HortonSep 11

@europlus It was decommissioned at least two years ago. All the electronics and electrical equipment are gone, it's just the structure that's left.

https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/news-and-events/news/2023/11/02/farewell-to-an-icon--the-legacy-of-molonglo-telescope.html

Farewell to an Icon: The Legacy of Molonglo Telescope

The University of Sydney
Show threadeuroplus Sep 11
@spacelizard 😢
Show threadAnthony HortonSep 11
@europlus It's OK. Australian radio astronomers have still got ATCA, Murriyang/Parkes, ASKAP, MWA, SKA-Low....
Show threadPatrickSep 11
@spacelizard @weirdestate but does it have good wireless signal all over the place?