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Astronomy – Observatory
Trinity College Observatory
Trinity College observatory houses the first remotely operated robotic telescope at an Australian school. This research-grade science education facility has been the centrepiece of a unique offering for our science students, for it enables Years 9 and 10 Astronomy & Space Sciences option students the capability of collecting original astronomical data for science investigations.
The student-centred, self-paced and online course enables students to contemplate and explore the Earth and beyond via studies encompassing the solar system, rocketry, stars, cosmology, astrobiology, manned space missions (Apollo, Shuttle, International Space Station), and satellite remote sensing of Earth (meteorology, crop/agricultural production).
With the assistance of the observatory manager, Jeremy Dixon, this observatory will be accessible via the internet to students and other interested groups at local, national and international levels.
This facility is destined to engage and stimulate many students at Trinity for several decades and hopefully steer some towards a science related career. In addition, we hope to offer outreach opportunities to the community such as open nights and public lectures. In early 2003, the annual WA ASTROFEST will be held at the college.
I wish to thank the Trinity community for its support in this unique undertaking.
For more details about the observatory visit the college website (http://www.trinity.wa.edu.au) and select ‘observatory’.
