Hargrave-Andrew Library is site of Mercury transit action

The courtyard outside the Hargrave-Andrew Library was a buzz of astronomical activity on Thursday 9 November, as members of the School of Physics used telescopes to project and view images of Mercury transiting the face of the sun.

Chief among the telescopes used for the viewing, was the Sir John Monash telescope, brought out of its retirement to show that it is still an effective scientific tool for astronomical work. The telescope has been on display in the ‘culture wall’ in the Hargrave-Andrew Library since the refurbished library’s official re-opening early this year.

Susan Feteris, Astronomy Co-ordinator and Lecturer in the School of Physics explained that as well as the telescopes outside the Hargrave-Andrew Library, there were other groups of Monash University astronomers at work: “At the beginning of the transit (6:12am) the sun and Mercury were just above the horizon, so there was one group on top of the Menzies Building photographing the whole transit which finished at 11:10am.

“A big 10-inch telescope used for the viewing outside the library has a full solar filter, so people were able to look at the image directly. We also had a 4-inch telescope projecting the image, but the old brass (Sir John Monash) telescope provided a superior image!”

The full transit of Mercury was only visible from the east coast of Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Antarctica and the west coast of North America. The last transit of Mercury was on 7 May 2003 and there will not be another one visible from Australia until 13 November 2032.

Among those who celebrated the Mercury transit with Monash’s astronomers, were Sir John Monash's great-granddaughter and great-grandson, Caroline and Mark Durre, and Mark’s nine-year-old son Christopher. Caroline is also a Monash University lecturer in the Faculty of Art and Design.

10 November 2006

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Caroline and Mark Durre, and Mark’s son Christopher, with the Sir John Monash telescope, outside the Hargrave-Andrew Library