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| Anglo-Australian Observatory, Siding Springs, in the firing line |
Australia's premier astronomy site, the Sidings Spring Observatory in the Warrumbungle Mountains near Coonabarabran, has been damaged by an out of control bushfire this afternoon.
All staff were evacuated from the observatory in time. Temperature sensors shot to 120 degrees Celsius as the fire-front passed over the site. Flames have been caught on webcams.
All staff were evacuated from the observatory in time. Temperature sensors shot to 120 degrees Celsius as the fire-front passed over the site. Flames have been caught on webcams.
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| Weather readings from the site, posted by English astronomer James Allen, currently working at SSO. Note the peak temperature! |
The Rural Fire Service has reported two nearby properties as destroyed and the observatory as "damaged". A journalist has cited a good RFS source as saying the damage "is significant".