A GROUP of amateur astronomers intent on helping Tamworth reach the stars by building one of the country's largest privately-owned telescopes needs your help.
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They have the equipment, the skills and the enthusiasm – now all they need to find is a suitable hill on which to build an observatory.
Headed by local businessman Lindsay Lowe, the group of six stargazers from Tamworth has, for a number of years, planned to build a major observatory in the Tamworth area.
Last month they received an 80cm primary mirror lens after waiting 22 months for it to be imported from the United States.
The 120kg mirror lens is the major component of the telescope, which will collect about 13,500 times more starlight than the human eye.
The 3.5m telescope will likely be housed in a 7m diameter domed observatory, two storeys high, with all the facilities needed for professional use.
Mr Lowe said the planned telescope would be designed to allow direct observation of astronomical objects in addition to advanced electronic and photographic imaging techniques.
"Most modern large astronomical telescopes are designed for digital imaging and there are very few that you can actually look through," he said.
"The goal of our group has always been to build a large, precision telescope which can be used for direct viewing as well as being capable of undertaking serious research.
"Once the observatory is established, we envisage the telescope will be made available for public observing sessions and we hope to establish an astronomy club in the Tamworth area."
Mr Lowe said the telescope would be of educational value and would be available for use by schools and other interested organisations and groups.
The last major hurdle for the group is finding a site to build the observatory.
"We have been searching for a site within a 20km radius from Tamworth, however finding a reasonably dark location with a suitable hill has been a bit of a challenge," Mr Lowe said.
"We would certainly be interested in hearing from anyone who may have, or knows of, a site with a hill and reasonably good access which we could
purchase."
If anyone knows of a suitable site, up to 40ha, available for purchase, contact Mr Lowe at Fletcher's Fotographics on 6766 2255.
