Welcome to
MACEDON RANGES OBSERVATORY / International Telescope Facility
      
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Astronomical Society of Australia
Designated Optical Observatory No: DO3-37 |
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A specialized venue offering astronomers of all levels customized viewing
facilities, telescope hosting, automation and storage under dark pristine
central Victorian highland skies. Rising to over 610 meters (2,000 ft) above sea level and situated on 30 acres surrounded by mature untouched native forest, M.R.O is uniquely situated to allow general observing, research and high end astro-photographic opportunities for astronomers. We invite you to experience the universe with us here at M.R.O, under our clear pristine skies, spectacular forested vistas and in the company of our unique Australian native wildlife. Our Site
Our Skies Since well over 80% of Victoria's population is confined to the metropolitan area, only a short hour long trip inland to the Macedon Ranges brings the skies splendor within easy viewing. Being on the northern fringe of the Great Dividing Range, the more stable weather patterns provide a better quality sky with far less light pollution, atmospheric aberration and particulate air matter as would normally be encountered further south towards Melbourne.
Naked eye visibility often reaches minimum magnitudes of 6.5 with good nights reaching 7. FWHM measurements at the site have yielded readings of 1 to 1.3 arc seconds. Exceptional nights have measured into the Sub-Arc Second ranges. CCD exposures of 5 minutes or more have shown no sky-glow artifacts and naked eye views of distant galaxies such as NGC 253 and NGC 5128 are often achieved at M.R.O.
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Pier 2 Available!! Pier 2 within
the Main Stage 1 M.R.O Building has now become available for lease. Contact
M.R.O for details For Australian and International astronomers seeking an Australian remote location with high quality seeing, M.R.O offers pier leasing within its on site buildings. A total of 18 piers are available for yearly lease at rates far more competitive than many other similar venues around the world. Individual Observatory
placement may also be arranged on site for your personal requirements. Internet communications at
high speeds with Non-Satellite connections (T2) are available with high
data allocations for high end imagers. See our RATES Page for
more details or contact the Site Director to discuss your individual requirements. Workshops
Sessions cover a wide range of subjects such as telescope operations, telescope maintenance, planetary and deep sky imaging, equipment use, astronomy software courses and demonstrations. Our presenters are selected specifically for their acknowledged expertise in these areas and all workshops are priced at very reasonable levels. See our EVENTS page for details and dates. Pad Sponsorships Please consider being a part of our 'Adopt A Telescope Pad Scheme'. Participants may be either private individuals wishing to support our activities or businesses and corporations seeking to display their permanent presence at the facility. Of the 20 Telescope Pads available, several have now been sponsored with participants receiving their Registration Certificates as well as Engraved Plaques on their pads acknowledging their support. M.R.O Pad Sponsors include some of Australia's best known amateur astronomers and astrophotographers. Contact the Site Director for further details of the benefits of the scheme to you or your organization. Designated Optical Observatory DO3-37 Macedon Ranges Observatory is proud to have received approval in 2004 of our Designated Optical Observatory Status from the Astronomical Society of Australia. The Observatory was listed as number DO3-37 on the ASA's list of designated optical observatories.
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M.R.O is
situated less than 90 minutes from Melbourne via the Calder Freeway. Located in
a position midway between Kyneton and Lancefield on the northern ridge of the Cobaw State
Forest Plateau, the site was specifically selected for its convenient proximity for
Melbourne based astronomers and its unique location high on the Cobaw Plateau itself. This
effectively places our location above Melbourne's 
Further north, large
regional cities such as Bendigo, Castlemaine, Heathcote, Nagambie and Shepparton create
light pollution problems for astronomers seeking dark skies towards Central Victoria. This
is not the case at M.R.O because of its unique location and topography.
M.R.O conducts special workshops and presentations at regular intervals
throughout the year.