News and Events

School holiday fun at the Dish

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this school holidays? The Parkes radio telescope is running a series of free acitivities that will be fun for the whole family. Activities include the marble run challenge and T-shirt chromatography.

Marble run challenge

The marble run challenge is a physics activity that challenges you to complete a series of time-based tasks to construct a vertical path for a marble. It sounds simple, but every minor change made to the marble run affects the path of the marble further along. A series of challenges is posed to pairs of children, and prizes are awarded to winning teams and for creative marble designs. The session runs for about an hour.

Bookings are essential.

Monday 22 April – 10 am

T-shirt chromatography

The T-shirt chromatography workshop is a combination of art and science. Special chemicals are used to diffuse ink into amazing, colourful patterns. Children will need to bring their own T-shirt or pillowcase to decorate. Each session runs for about an hour.

Bookings are essential.

Thursday 18 April – 10 am
Wednesday 24 April – 10 am

To make bookings:

Tel: (02) 6961-1777
Email: parkes-vdc@csiro.au

David Malin Awards

Winner 2012 Solar System hires – King of Pain. A high resolution view of Venus against the sun in Hydrogen Alpha light on 6 June 2012. (Image: Peter Ward)

The Central West Astronomical Society recently launched the 2013 CWAS Astrophotography Awards judged by Dr David Malin - the "David Malin Awards". For more information visit the 2013 CWAS David Malin Awards.

This year's competition continues to build on the experience of previous years to help make it the premier competition of its kind in Australia. The competition this year will have three sections of entry - General Section, Open Themed Section and a Junior Section (18 or younger). The general section is divided into five categories; Wide-field (camera shots), Deep Sky (telescope shots), Solar System Objects - Hi-Resolution (<30') and Wide Field (> 30') - and a category for Animated Sequences. The Junior Section will have one open category and entries can be of any astronomical subject.