The Astronomers of Siding Spring
and the
The Astronomers of Parkes



Dr. Peter Pockley

Peter Pockley

Peter Pockley during an interview in April 2010.
Photo: Colin Mackellar.


In November 1966, Peter produced two television programmes on Australian astronomy (“The Astronomers of Siding Spring” and “The Astronomers of Parkes”). They were ambitious affairs, with segments being videotaped “live” at the ABC’s studios at Gore Hill, via microwave links from Siding Spring – and the next week from Parkes – for final editing and broadcast.

The programme from Siding Spring was broadcast on 6th November 1966,
and the programme from Parkes on 13th November 1966.

In the excerpt below, Dr. Pockley speaks about his ideas for the programmes, and their link to Australia’s contribution to the historic “Our World” broadcast of 25th June 2967.

 

Interview with Dr Peter Pockley – edited excerpt.

The Astronomers of Siding Spring and The Astronomers of Parkes.

audio 5.3MB mp3 audio file. This excerpt runs for 14'42".

(Recorded by Colin Mackellar, 08 April 2010.)


The rest of the interview is to come, and will be on this page.

Below are photos of the preparations for the broadcast from Parkes.

With thanks to the CSIRO and John Sarkissian.

John notes that they were likely taken by staff photographers John Masterson and Ken Nash.

Descriptions below the photos are by Colin Mackellar, and are very incomplete. Hopefully the descriptions can be filled out. CSIRO catalogue numbers are included.


The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-1. The Parkes two-element interferometer.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-3. The ABC’s Outside Broadcast van at the telescope.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-4. TV camera is hauled up onto the dish surface.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-5. On the dish surface.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-13. In the middle of a sheep paddock.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-15. Parkes Director, Dr John Bolton, points up to the dish.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-16. Parkes Director, Dr John Bolton, in the control room.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-18. ??? (can anyone help with names?), Dr John Bolton and Dr Peter Pockley in the control roomi.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-18A. Dr John Bolton and ?? in the control room. Dennis Gill is in the background.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-21. View of the master control console, with Dennis Gill in the foreground, driving the telescope, and Dr John Bolton at the chart recorder, ready to receive signals from Quasar 3C-273.

This camera setup was duplicated for Our World in June 1967.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-23. View of the master control console, with Dennis Gill in the background, driving the telescope, and Dr John Bolton at the chart recorder.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-25. Doug Cole.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-26. Doug Cole.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-28A. Camera positioned for the opening scene.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-29. Dr John Bolton with an optical image (left) of the object to be observed, and (?) a trace of the signal.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-30. Preparation for videotaping.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-31. ??

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-32. Dr John Bolton.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-33.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-34. John Bolton explaining the concept of Red shift.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8223-35. The interferometer.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8224-1. The interferometer.

The Astronomers at Parkes

B8224-2. The giant 210 foot (64 metre) Radio Telescope.

The Astronomers at Parkes

Ron Ekers, later Director of the VLA, and the Foundation Director of the ATNF.



Thanks again to the CSIRO and John Sarkissian for the archival images.

Interview recorded by Colin Mackellar, April 2010.
Edited by Colin Mackellar.