SSO Update
Published in the RSAA Lunations
Vol1 Issue49 1–31 March 2024
We are all familiar with the expression, “Lightning never strikes the same place twice.” While we know this to not be true, there could not have been a better example of this than what occurred a couple of weeks ago when multiple buildings at SSO were struck multiple times during an electrical storm. Here is one account from Gayandhi De Silva, one of our telescope operators, of what happened that day.
"My one-week night shift started on a Thursday as normal. To stay somewhat active and not succumb to sleeping, eating, and sitting for a whole week, I try to go for walks in the afternoons as much as I can. So, despite the darkening skies I was determined to walk that afternoon, even if I might get a little wet. Given numerous snake sightings, that was my number one worry hence I was mostly looking down, not up. I started walking along the road towards the summit and had just past the big bend when I could hear thunder rumbling all around. I wasn’t prepared for the deafening lightning crackle in front of my eyes in the area around the 24”. My heart raced and with an involuntary scream, I hurried back to the lodge, completely shaken. Back under cover and feeling much safer and dry, I watched the storm overhead, including the multiple lightning strikes in the direction of the AAT. As if to make up for the missed walk, a few nights later the main AAT elevator malfunctioned forcing me to walk up and down the stairs - a much safer activity to get the heart rate up, I might continue in future shifts!"
During the storm, the AAT was hit twice, SkyMapper was hit three times, and there were multiple strikes near the 16”. All told, there was damage to the AAT, 16”, 2.3-metre and GOTO-South. Many other telescopes were affected. Damage to the AAT was minor, although not all of the damaged systems are fully operational. The 2.3-metre was offline for about 10 days. Thanks to the hard work of technical staff, all telescopes at SSO are now working. Fortunately, no one was hurt but it was a scary experience for all involved.
Farewell Ashley Anderson
After four years of dedicated work, Ashley will be leaving us at the end of March to take up a job closer to the coast. Ashley ably led the electronics group at SSO for most of that time and was a key person in maintaining and repairing many of the electronic systems at SSO. He will be missed.
We wish Ashley all the best for the future, and we hope that he comes to visit us from time to time.
Chris Lidman and Gayandhi De Silva on behalf of the SSO team
Image: This is not a picture of SSO, but it gives an idea of what the lightning was like.
