Observing the “Man-made Moons”: the Role of Australian Amateur Astronomers in Operation Moonwatch.

This presentation was delivered at the first HAAC seminar, 19 November 2025.

Speaker: Kerrie Dougherty OAM is Senior Heritage and Outreach officer at the Australian Space Agency. 

Link to the 16 minute YouTube recording: https://youtu.be/zStoBzmLM1E 

Abstract: To support US satellite projects for the International Geophysical Year, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) created a global optical tracking network using Baker-Nunn telescope cameras. Their narrow field of view made it difficult to locate satellites that were barely visible to the naked eye, so the SAO enlisted amateur astronomers to spot satellites and report sightings, guiding the Baker-Nunn observatories toward precise tracking—an initiative called Operation Moonwatch.  Four of the initial five Moonwatch groups in Australia were formed by local astronomical societies. This presentation explores their vital role, with teams contributing key observations of early satellites, including several spotting firsts and tracking re-entering satellites. 

Bio: Dr Kerrie Dougherty OAM is Senior Heritage and Outreach officer at the Australian Space Agency. She is a space historian, curator, educator and outreach specialist. The author of Australia in Space, Kerrie is a Member of the International Academy of Astronautics, and lectures in the International Space University’s Space Humanities Department.