| CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science Parkes Users Guide |
 |
|
|
The Parkes Observatory is located 414.80m above sea level at latitude
-32
59
54.263
south, longitude
148 15 48.636 east, 25 kilometres North of the
town of Parkes which is approximately 365 kilometres West of Sydney.
It is 6 kilometres off the Newell Highway, the main road from Parkes to Dubbo. The Shire has a
population of 15,000 and the town a population of 10,000 and is in the middle
of a rich sheep, wheat producing and mining area. The Observatory is part
of The Australia Telescope National Facility
(ATNF) a division of the
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
(CSIRO). The Parkes site contains the 64-metre RadioTelescope, the 12-metre ASKAP prototype
antenna, an administration building with offices, workshops and library, an Observer’s
Quarters, Visitors Discovery Centre and Cafe. A map and key of the site can be found below.
Figure 1.1: Parkes Observatory Site Map
001: Radio Telescope 003: Lab/Lunch Room 004: Standby Generator Building 006: Visitors Centre 007: Store Room 008: Observers Quarters 009: Grounds Maintenance Workshop 010: Flammable Liquids Store 013: Store 018: Administration/Receiver Lab 019: Pump House 020: Mechanical & Electrical Workshop 022: Workshop 024: Observing Assist. hse (No2E) 025: Observing Assist. hse (No1W) 026: Dish Cafe 027: Visitors Toilet 028A: NASA Hut (Demountable) 028B: Office (Demountable) 028C: Office/Workshop (Demountable) 029: Machinery Shed |
The collecting area of the telescope is a 64-m diameter paraboloid (the dish). The surface is high precision aluminium millimetre wavepanels to a diameter of 17-m (for operation to 43 GHz), then perforated aluminium plate out to 45-m, and rectangular galvanised steel 5/16-inch mesh for the remainder of the surface. The focal ratio is 0.41 for the full 64-m surface, the focus being located 26-m above the centre. The aerial cabin, which houses feeds and receiver equipment, is supported by a tripod. Access to the aerial cabin is either by the lift on one of the tripod legs (the "lift leg") or by a ladder on one of the other legs. The feed platform translator, which holds up to four receivers, at the base of the aerial cabin has both up/down (focus), lateral and rotational movement. Further properties of the RadioTelescope are shown below.
weight of dish: 300 tonnes weight of counterweights: 475 tonnes total weight of the dish: 1,000 tonnes surface area of reflecting mesh: 0.4 hectares (1 acre) height of concrete tower: 10.7 metres (35 ft) height to centre of dish: 27.4 metres (90 ft) height to top of aerial cabin: 58.6 metres (192 ft) power of Azimuth/Zenith drives: 11 kW (15 hp) pointing accuracy: better than 20 arcsec coverage: Az 0-360 |
The dish may be operated between the Zenith angle software limits of 1.5 and 59.5 degrees. There are three hardware limits at Zenith angles less than 1.5 degrees, and also another three past 59.5 degrees. The dish can be "stowed" at a physical limit 30 minutes of arc beyond the Zenith. It is constrained in this position by a locking pin. Azimuth angle is measured as 0 degrees due north, increasing to the east.
There are regular transport services to Parkes from Sydney by planes, trains and automobiles (bus). There are also buses from Canberra, Brisbane, Narrabri, Melbourne and Adelaide that stop at Parkes.
Visitors and ATNF staff travelling to Parkes should note that from Monday 4 May 2009 airport transfers to and from the site will be by Taxi. Please specify on your web booking form if you require a taxi to be booked for you and the time you are arriving/departing. The cost of the taxi is Monday - Saturday $70.00 each way, including GST and $80.00 each way on Sundays, including GST - this cost will be charged back to visitors.
Regional Express have daily flights between Sydney and Parkes using light aircraft. The Parkes airport is 5 kilometres east of the township. The flight, which in 2002 cost $230 for an adult return (with 21 days notice and including airport tax and GST), is cheaper if your flight to Parkes is included on an international airline ticket. It takes one hour for a direct flight and an hour and three quarters if stopping at Orange or Cudal on the way. Bookings can be made at any travel agent or the airline office. The telephone number for Regional Express Reservations is 13 17 13 (within Australia).
CountryLink operate a train out of Sydney which connects with a bus to Parkes at either Orange or Lithgow. The combined journey takes about eight hours. See their site for updated fares. Countrylink can be contacted on 13 22 32 (within Australia).
The journey from Sydney to Parkes is 365 kilometres and takes nearly 5 hours. There is a choice of two scenic routes over the Blue Mountains; through Penrith to Katoomba and then to Lithgow, or through Windsor to Bell and then to Lithgow. If taking the Bell road head north-west out of Sydney through Baulkham Hills and the Windsor Road. To take the Katoomba road head west out of Sydney through Parramatta and then on to the freeway to Penrith. After Lithgow the route is through Bathurst, Orange, Manildra and then Parkes. It is essential to have a current drivers license acceptable in NSW to allow you to drive the CSIRO cars which are used at the Observatory. Note that NSW law requires all drivers to carry a valid driver’s license in English, or with an approved English translation (obtainable through the Australian Embassy before travelling). This will enable you to drive the site vehicles from the observers quarters to the 64-metre telescope (one kilometre each way). Bicycles provide an alternative means of transport. Traffic in Australia uses the left-hand side of the road. The limit on drink driving is 0.05.
Other information on transport can be found at the ATNF website(1).
For official observatory visitors, we have nine single rooms and two double rooms, two bathrooms each with bath, shower and toilet, a dining room, a conference room and a lounge room. Quarters staff are present from 08:00 to 16:30 weekdays.
The cost of accommodation at the Parkes Observatory Quarters is shown in the table below.
per room, per night: $64.10 breakfast included lunch (12.30-13.30): $13.20 dinner: $19.80 full board, per day: $97.10 4 bedroom unit: $84.70 nightly rate, minimum stay three nights or $593 weekly. |
All prices are 10% GST inclusive. Students receive a 50% discount on room and meal prices. Children under 12 are given a 50% discount on meals.
The unit can be used as a self contained unit, but meals from the Quarters kitchen may be requested (prices as above). The unit has five beds and a self-contained kitchen, for those preferring to do their own catering.
There are also numerous motels in the township of Parkes. On arrival, check in at the quarters and leave your luggage in the room assigned to you. If you are not staying at the quarters, check in at the administration desk (in the Administration Building). The administration desk is staffed from 8:00 to 16:30 Mondays to Fridays. If you arrive after staff working hours, contact the quarters prior to your arrival to obtain your room arrangements or you can find your room number from a schedule in the kitchen.
Official visitors should inform the Observatory of their travel details and accommodation requirements by filling in the WWW ATNF Reservation Form as soon as possible before travelling, and at least three days in advance of arrival.
The observatory supports a Visitors Centre which is open to educational groups and the public each day from 08:30 to 16:15 (except Christmas and Boxing Days). The centre features displays and interactive exhibits about the telescope and two theatres - The Invisible Universe about the telescope, astronomy and radio astronomy and the 3D theatre, which has a variety of astronomy related 3D shows. Educational materials and souvenirs are available for sale from the centre or through their mail order service. Observers and ATNF staff enjoy a 20% discount on most items and free entry to the theatres.
The Dish Cafe provides a range of drinks and food with a great view of the telescope. Observers and staff enjoy a 10% discount plus $2.00 per coffee for observers if you bring your own mug! (as at July 2008).
For staff: It helps cafe and Visitor Centre staff to know that you’re eligible for a discount if you have some form of identification such as a hard hat. More information on the Visitors Centre and Dish Cafe can be found here.
The observatory can be contacted at the following address:
This document was generated by Stacy Mader on October 13, 2011 using texi2html 1.82.