Join for free
Bruce's Avatar
Bruce
Chatterbox
Bruce is offline
Wollongong, Australia
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 15,218
Bruce is male  Bruce has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
09-06-2018, 11:39 PM
1

Deep Space Tracking

I was tempted to add this to the thread about the ISS but decided it is probably worth a thread of its own.

NASA has an interesting page which shows which antennas are tracking which space craft - even Voyager crops up occasionally.

https://eyes.nasa.gov/dsn/dsn.html





The CSIRO/NASA Deep Space tracking station at Tidbinbilla near Canberra is well worth a visit. They have antenna DSN 46 which started life at the Honeysuckle Creek tracking station.

Originally constructed in 1965 for the Apollo missions, this antenna has had an amazing history. The first human spaceflight mission it supported was Apollo 7 in October 1968. On 21 July 1969 (Australian time) this antenna received and relayed to the world the first television images of Neil Armstrong's historic first steps on the Moon.



It is no longer used but it will not be dismantled because of its history.

The main antennas are in constant use.






Attached Thumbnails (Click to enlarge)
Click image for larger version

Name:	180224 050 Tidbinbilla Deep Space Centre Honeysuckle Creek Dish.jpg
Views:	158
Size:	48.9 KB
ID:	6173   Click image for larger version

Name:	180224 043 Tidbinbilla Deep Space Centre.jpg
Views:	154
Size:	46.8 KB
ID:	6174   Click image for larger version

Name:	180224 029 Tidbinbilla Deep Space Centre.jpg
Views:	159
Size:	31.3 KB
ID:	6175   Click image for larger version

Name:	180224 046 Tidbinbilla Deep Space Centre.jpg
Views:	158
Size:	49.9 KB
ID:	6176   Click image for larger version

Name:	Ashampoo_Snap_2018.06.10_09h00m24s_001_DSN Now - Mozilla Firefox.jpg
Views:	163
Size:	26.7 KB
ID:	6182  

Bruce's Avatar
Bruce
Chatterbox
Bruce is offline
Wollongong, Australia
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 15,218
Bruce is male  Bruce has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
09-06-2018, 11:54 PM
2

Re: Deep Space Tracking

As an aside to this if you visit Canberra one of the best drives close to the city is to visit Mt Stromlo, Tidbinbilla and Honeysuckle Creek.



Mt Stromlo was ravaged by the 2003 bushfires and lost one of its important telescopes and several buildings





These days the telescopes are hardly used but it is still a massive research facility. Because of modern communications it uses telescopes all over the world but particularly the one in the Warrumbungles for its research.



Not much remains at Honeysuckle Creek other than a memorial and a wonderful National Park and campground




Attached Thumbnails (Click to enlarge)
Click image for larger version

Name:	180224 061 Mt Stromlo Observatory.jpg
Views:	145
Size:	40.2 KB
ID:	6177   Click image for larger version

Name:	052 Mt Stromlo 17-02-10.jpg
Views:	147
Size:	31.1 KB
ID:	6178   Click image for larger version

Name:	110601 044 Mt Stromlo Observatory.jpg
Views:	148
Size:	29.9 KB
ID:	6179   Click image for larger version

Name:	059 Mt Stromlo 17-02-10.jpg
Views:	150
Size:	43.6 KB
ID:	6180   Click image for larger version

Name:	076 Honeysuckle Creek 17-02-10.jpg
Views:	147
Size:	51.1 KB
ID:	6181  

Longdogs's Avatar
Longdogs
Chatterbox
Longdogs is offline
SW England
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 43,957
Longdogs is male  Longdogs has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
10-06-2018, 10:08 AM
3

Re: Deep Space Tracking

Wow what an interesting place to visit. That DSN 46 definitely looks a bit War of the Worlds.
OldGreyFox's Avatar
OldGreyFox
Chatterbox
OldGreyFox is offline
South Yorkshire
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 21,202
OldGreyFox is male  OldGreyFox has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
11-06-2018, 08:57 AM
4

Re: Deep Space Tracking

Brilliant photos Bruce, and an interesting piece of modern history. Thanks for sharing, if I'm ever lucky enough, or healthy enough, to visit Australia they will be high on my list of places to visit......Especially the cafe'....
Bruce's Avatar
Bruce
Chatterbox
Bruce is offline
Wollongong, Australia
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 15,218
Bruce is male  Bruce has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
11-06-2018, 09:27 AM
5

Re: Deep Space Tracking

For those that are interested here are a few more space related things.

In the radio department this is the Parkes Telescope which featured in the film "The Dish" and which was involved in the Apollo Moon landing (though not as much as claimed in the film).

It has been updated several times and is state of the art but here is the original control panel used at the time of the moon landings.



The telescope is in constant use and every time I have visited has moved or has been tracking.






Attached Thumbnails (Click to enlarge)
Click image for larger version

Name:	180319 001 Parkes Radio Telescope.jpg
Views:	133
Size:	39.9 KB
ID:	6195   Click image for larger version

Name:	180319 010 Parkes Radio Telescope.jpg
Views:	131
Size:	49.3 KB
ID:	6196   Click image for larger version

Name:	08-12-16 Parkes Radio Telescope 037.jpg
Views:	131
Size:	53.9 KB
ID:	6197  
Bruce's Avatar
Bruce
Chatterbox
Bruce is offline
Wollongong, Australia
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 15,218
Bruce is male  Bruce has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
11-06-2018, 09:43 AM
6

Re: Deep Space Tracking

Then there is the Anglo Australian telescope high in the Warrumbungles at the Siding Spring Observatory.

It is a massive optical telescope with nearly 4 metre mirror, there are several smaller telescopes in the park owned by various organisations including the Japanese.

The area is recognised as an IDA International Dark Sky Park (IDSP) which is land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment.



Notice how it is enhanced by my vehicle parked in front of it. Inside the telescope is BIG



They still have the box for the mirror (in case they have to send it back?).



The surrounding area for hundreds or kilometres has a scale model of the Solar System. which uses the dome of the observatory as a scale model of the Sun.



Here is the Earth to scale, notice the tiny moon - I forget where this sign was but it was a long way from the observatory but nothing like the distance and size of the gas giants.




Attached Thumbnails (Click to enlarge)
Click image for larger version

Name:	171107 048 Warrumbungles Siding Springs Observatory.jpg
Views:	123
Size:	46.3 KB
ID:	6198   Click image for larger version

Name:	171107 029 Warrumbungles Siding Springs Observatory.jpg
Views:	126
Size:	49.2 KB
ID:	6199   Click image for larger version

Name:	171107 012 Warrumbungles Siding Springs Observatory.jpg
Views:	127
Size:	47.6 KB
ID:	6200   Click image for larger version

Name:	171107 046 Warrumbungles Siding Springs Observatory.jpg
Views:	129
Size:	70.2 KB
ID:	6201   Click image for larger version

Name:	171107 006 Warrumbungles Earth.jpg
Views:	122
Size:	58.3 KB
ID:	6202  

Bruce's Avatar
Bruce
Chatterbox
Bruce is offline
Wollongong, Australia
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 15,218
Bruce is male  Bruce has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
11-06-2018, 09:53 AM
7

Re: Deep Space Tracking

Originally Posted by Longdogs ->
Wow what an interesting place to visit. That DSN 46 definitely looks a bit War of the Worlds.

Originally Posted by OldGreyFox ->
Brilliant photos Bruce, and an interesting piece of modern history. Thanks for sharing, if I'm ever lucky enough, or healthy enough, to visit Australia they will be high on my list of places to visit......Especially the cafe'....
They've all got cafes and visitor centres (except Honeysuckle Creek)



I am interested in science but also the Australian night sky is absolutely fascinating.

When I first came to Australia I recognised nothing in the night sky except something obvious like Orion's Belt but I noticed that it seemed to have a lot more stars especially when you get away from the cities.

Apparently the Southern Hemisphere looks toward the centre of our galaxy hence the quantity of stars. Of course by now I am far more familiar with it and can pick the Southern Cross, the false cross and various other interesting stars and galaxies but I still haven't lost my wonder at the sheer number of stars and the night sky 'downunder'.


Attached Thumbnails (Click to enlarge)
Click image for larger version

Name:	180224 058 Tidbinbilla Deep Space Centre.jpg
Views:	126
Size:	46.4 KB
ID:	6204  
Dobra's Avatar
Dobra
Senior Member
Dobra is offline
Isle of Wight GB
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,301
Dobra is male  Dobra has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
11-06-2018, 03:21 PM
8

Re: Deep Space Tracking

At the other end of the scale, Vectis A S here on the IoW. The location was chosen for clear skies and semi remoteness.
Here are a few shots from their gallery.

http://www.wightastronomy.org/photo-galleries/planets/
 

Thread Tools


© Copyright 2009, Over50sForum   Contact Us | Over 50s Forum! | Archive | Privacy Statement | Terms of Use | Top

Powered by vBulletin Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.