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Making them visible: women in astronomy in Australia
Find out how women can be researched and made visible in the history of science.
HAAC Committee
May 271 min read


Sir Thomas Brisbane’s Parramatta Observatory Revisited (1821–1825)
A fascinating virtual visit to Parramatta Observatory as it was 1821-1825.
HAAC Committee
May 271 min read


Alan Vaughan (1946 -2026)
Alan Vaughan passed away peacefully on the morning of Tuesday 5 May 2026. Alan completed his honours degree at University of Sydney in 1968 then continued to a PhD searching for pulsars with the Molonglo radio telescope under the supervision of Michael Large. The early discoveries were reported in several papers in Nature during 1968 (e.g. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1968Natur.220..753L). Alan graduated in 1975 and joined Macquarie University. He continued research
John O'Byrne
May 171 min read


William Bruce McAdam (1932-2026)
Bruce McAdam, photo courtesy Jan McAdam One of the "originals" in radio astronomy - Bruce McAdam - died quietly at home on the night of Monday 27 April 2026, aged 94, some 30 years after his retirement from the University of Sydney. Bruce McAdam was one of the "originals" in radio astronomy. Bruce's first paper titled 'A survey of radio sources at a frequency of 159 Mc/s' was published in 1959. He was full of excellent stories about the Cambridge vs. USyd controversy on radio
John O'Byrne
May 172 min read


Anniversaries
Photographs of sites connected to the history of astronomy by Nick Lomb Anniversaries offer the opportunity to remember and reflect on the past, what has changed and what have we preserved or adopted long-term. The following anniversaries are intended to stimulate interest in Australian astronomical events that occurred 25 or more years ago in quarter century increments. Anniversaries can have different meanings for those who experienced them or for the consequences of the ev
HAAC Committee
May 62 min read


The Saga of the Astrographic Telescope at Sydney Observatory
The fascinating story of the removal and return of the astrographic telescope and dome at Sydney Observatory.
Nick Lomb
May 13 min read


Adelaide Observatory: 1882 - 1952
This is a compelling summary of the history of Adelaide Observatory.
Toner Stevenson
Feb 166 min read


Adelaide Observatory: 1855 - 1874
This is a compelling history of Adelaide Observatory.
Toner Stevenson
Feb 154 min read


2025 workshop recording
View the first annual History of Australian Astronomy workshop on-line. The workshop features seven presentations demonstrating the breadth of the history of Australian astronomy.
HAAC Committee
Nov 21, 20251 min read


Perth Observatory
This is a compelling summary of the history of Perth Observatory.
Craig Bowers
Sep 30, 20256 min read


Welcome
This is a new website devoted to the history of Australian astronomy.
Nick Lomb
Sep 26, 20252 min read


Publications
Here are some useful links to publications and papers: The SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System Abstract Service provides a gateway to current and historic online Astronomy and Physics literature. The CSIRO's Historical Records of Australian Science includes the history of astronomy in Australia and New Zealand. The Royal Society of New South Wales Journal and Proceedings includes astronomy in its on-line historic database of papers and abstracts of doctoral theses. The index is
Toner Stevenson
Sep 24, 202512 min read
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