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Bushfires Destroy Historic Mt. Stromlo Observatory

Posted by timothy on from the shame dept.

Anthony writes "The historic Mt Stromlo observatory has been destroyed by fires. Unfortunately Google cache and similar archives are the only available detailed information. Looks like the web site was housed at the observatory. Telescopes housed there were 74" and 50" reflectors along with the "Oddie" 9" refractor used by the Canberra Astronomical Society. Also destroyed were a number of student houses and workshops. The view from the air is one of molten domes and twisted metal. These fires have already destroyed 388 houses in the suburbs of Canberra. Luckily the winds have not picked up today, but the danger is still high."

6 of 296 comments (clear)

  1. Wow... by Klerck · · Score: -1, Redundant

    I think I heard something about a number of student houses and workshops being destroyed too!

  2. Mt. Stromlo Observatory, dead at 54 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Mt. Stromlo observatory was found burned to the ground today. No matter what you think about astronomy, this was a great loss. Truly an American icon.

  3. Re:Bushes fires by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Yes, that comment has been made, and marked as troll, already.

    The real gem is the following comment making a pun on Stromlo being Strom's Observatory.

    Read for yourself

  4. In Soviet Russia... by -1bynextweek · · Score: -1, Redundant

    historic observatories destroy fires!!!

  5. So let me get this straight ... by gulfan · · Score: 0, Redundant

    ... the slashdot effect against the webserver caused a harddrive failure which caught the computer on fire, which then burned down the observatory? We really need to mirror things!

  6. This just in... by Mister+Transistor · · Score: 0, Redundant

    In a related story, Slashfires set ablaze the server farm at the Australian National University.
    "Twas 'orrible, mate!" recalled the sysadmin there, who narrowly avoided burning his (transmission garbled)... ...Fortunately, the MP3 and p0rn servers have reportedly survived the onslaught. Film at 11.

    --
    -- You are in a maze of little, twisty passages, all different... --