Today we visited the iconic CSIRO Radio Telescope on the outskirts of Parkes (affectionally known as 'The Dish' thanks to the 2000 Australian historical comedy-drama film of the same name). Towering above the surrounding fields it’s hard to fathom that this enormous structure has been listening to the universe since the 1960s.
The boys were amazed to learn that The Dish helped beam the Apollo 11 moon landing to Earth 52 years ago. Even more incredible, that most of the historic footage we’ve seen over the years was transmitted via this telescope right here in rural NSW.
Inside the Visitor Discovery Centre, we explored interactive exhibits explaining how radio astronomy works and learned about how scientists use the dish to study galaxies billions of light years away. The boys particularly enjoyed 'listening' to space and contemplating whether aliens might be out there trying to contact us.
After wandering around the grounds, we relaxed at the cafe where we watched on in awe every few minutes as the dish slowly turned and repositioned. An amazing piece of engineering! It is a must-see when travelling through this part of the country.
P.S. The Dish remains a part of NASA missions to this day. And it's still in the middle of a sheep paddock.Read more
AustraliaParkes32°59’53” S 148°15’47” E
AustraliaParkes32°59’53” S 148°15’47” E