[AZ-Observing] Mount Stromlo burned

     Since this has made US national news headlines, but with few details,
here is a rundown posted by a local to the minor-planet mailing list.  Note
that this report is 24 hours old, so specifics may have changed.  I heard this
morning on the radio that the fires near Canberra were "contained".
     Substitute Lowell Observatory's "Mars Hill" or "Anderson Mesa", and this
could be us in six months time....

\Brian

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To: mpml@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
From: "David Higgins <higginsdj@xxxxxxxxxxx>" <higginsdj@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 01:58:19 -0000
Subject: {MPML} Mt Stromlo - Gone

A sad day for Australian Astronomy - it appears Mt Stromlo has been 
destroyed by bushfire - just received the following report:

"Sadly I have just seen the aerial pictures of Mt Stromlo observatory 
and spoken with Vince Ford, an astronomer on Mt Stromlo and our 
worst fears have been realised.

Laser ranger facility - gone
9" Oddie refractor - gone
26" Yale Columbia refractor - gone
50" Great Melbourne Telescope - gone
30" - might be ok?
18" Uppsala dome (Canberra Astronomical Societies dome) - gone
74" - definitely damaged but true extent of damage unclear
Original administration building including two small domes housing 
old refractor and solar scope - gone
Workshops - gone
Main admin building - at least water damaged but may be worse!

A sad day for southern hemisphere astronomy.

Mike Sidonio"

The Canberra fires have taken 400 homes and it's not over yet.

David Higgins
Hunters Hill Observatory
MPC/CBAT Obs. E14
Canberra, Australia
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