LUCKAS OBSERVATORY - MPC D21

0.35m Schmidt Cassegrain + CCD

The site located in Perth, Western Australia, was established in 2001, and originally utlised a computerised 10" Schmidt Cassegrain through which all of the Astrophotography currently on this site was achieved. In late 2003, the Sirius Observatory was installed to permanently house the equipment. Motorised dome rotation was added in early 2005 to futher streamline unattended imaging. In mid 2005, dome shutter automation and weather monitoring were installed as part of a package to house new equipment in a cooperative supernovae hunting project with Tenagra Observatories. Since then the dome has performed flawlessly with over 100,000 slews over the past 3 years, imaging thousands of galaxies and resulting in 11 discoveries. Complete automation has allowed the system to run safely unattended throughout the night in varying weather conditions thanks primarily to pioneering software developed in cooperation with Matt Thomas (CCD Commander). Recently the telescope has been engaged in Minor Planet work utilising Paulo Holvorcem's MU script resulting in a number of recent discoveries.

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