2024 events

Sat 30th
15:30-16:30
Starlight Room

The Travels, Travails, and Triumphs of an Amateur Astronomer Through The Decades

Colin Bembrick

Sutherland AS, Central West AS

From a 50mm refractor to a 40cm Schmidt-Cassegrain; from visual observing of Sputnik I to Lunar grazing occultations, Jupiter satellite phenomena, minor planet occultations and astrometry of supernovae; from home-built photoelectric photometer, kit-built photometer; to CCD photometry of variable stars and minor planets: this is the story of the "education" of one amateur astronomer.

Col Bembrick became seriously interested in astronomy after observing Sputnik I from his backyard in 1957. This led to the purchase of a 50mm refractor and later a home-grown 20cm Newtonian reflector. In the 1960s university studies and geological fieldwork limited the astronomy to some extent, but in the 70s things looked up via contact with Sutherland Astronomical Society, leading to visual variable star observing, lunar grazing occultation expeditions, and Jupiter satellite eclipse timings.

In 1979 Col resigned from the Geological Survey of NSW and took up a geology consulting position with Robertson Research Australia. 'Discovering' NACAA in the 1980s saw Col attend his first NACAA in Brisbane in 1982. At about the same time a dark sky observatory in a remote paddock west of Lithgow was constructed in time for Comet Halley observing and Halley 'Star Parties'. The observing equipment was upgraded to a 25cm Schmidt-Cassegrain and a CCD camera.

In 1989 Col had a career change, becoming a Technical Officer in the Astrophysics Dept at UNSW School of Physics. Col became responsible for the UNSW Automated Patrol Telescope at Siding Spring, contributing to the re-design and upgrading of the old Baker-Nunn camera. Also in 1989, Col married a geology teacher and has now attended many NACAAs with Glenda and also two total solar eclipse expeditions and several Leonid meteor observing trips.

The observatory (Mt Tarana Observatory) was moved to Napoleon Reef NSW in 1988 and extensive CCD photometry has been undertaken there involving minor planet light curves and studies of eclipsing binaries, the latter in collaboration with VSS. In 2004 Col was awarded the Berenice Page Medal for his work on minor planets.