RIGHT above everyone's heads, more than 3000 active satellites orbit the Earth.
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And, one of the only two Hewitt Cameras in the world, built in 1962 to photograph Earth-orbiting satellites, is housed at the Tamworth Regional Astronomy and Science Centre that officially opened on Monday.
The centre is the newest addition to the NSW Inland Astronomy Trail, and when it comes to the tourism benefit to the region Tamworth Regional Council mayor Col Murray said the sky is the limit.
"We're already seeing the initial business case projecting, early days, a value of around half-a-million dollars [each year] in economic benefit to the community from tourism and I think that's only a starting price," Cr Murray said.
"Over time we will see this become a really significant piece of that astronomy tourism in Australia."
The Inland Astro-Tour concept will take travellers on an out-of-this-world journey from the Parkes Observatory to the Warrumbungles, to Les Dalrymple's new observatory near Billimari, through Tamworth and to Wiradjuri and Gomeroi astro-heritage sites in-between.
The $2.7 million centre will hopefully inspire the next generation of astrophysicists, Member for New England Barnaby Joyce said.
"The students in Tamworth have the capacity to come here and find that little kernel of inspiration that inspires them so when they go back to the classroom it's not just an abstract concept," he said.
"There is going to be hundreds of billions of dollars spent in the space industry.
"In developing that we will get so many other skills sets that makes sure Australia has the high-level, technical, well-paying jobs and they're here in the New England."
The centre is complete with a large observatory with a roll-off roof to house multiple telescopes, a planetarium for lectures, a multi-functional space for the display of instruments and a smaller observatory for the rare Hewitt Camera.
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It spent the last few months in Andromeda Industries' founder Raymond McLaren's back-shed being restored to working condition, he's one of a few people capable of doing so.
"This is the culmination of a lot of work for a lot of people," he said.
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said the big open skies make Tamworth a prime location for the centre.
"I'm so pleased that the NSW Government was able to contribute $1.8 million towards making this project a reality," he said.
The centre is now open Thursday evenings from 5pm to 8pm and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm, operated by astronomy club volunteers.
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