Rally driving clubs in Canberra were barred from using sections of Stromlo Forest closest to the Mount Stromlo Observatory reported The Canberra Times 42 years ago.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The dust raised from the rally was said to be damaging to the multimillion dollar telescopes.
Forestry officers from the Department of the Capital Territory told the secretary of the Southern District Motor Sport Association, Christine McKell, that no further rallies should be held in the forest near Mount Stromlo.
The administration of the Australian National University, which ran the observatory and the Department of the Capital Territory, which ran the forest, were involved in discussions over the dust-raising blamed on rallies.
McKell said that future rallies would have to be rerouted.
"We are a bit upset but it is recognised that the observatory has work to do," she said.
Observatory astronomers said that the dust raised during the rallies was "absolutely disastrous" to their viewing, at times cutting down the reflectivity of the observatory's 74-inch telescope to that of a six-inch one.
Dust as well as pollen, affects the mirrors and lenses of the telescopes.
A telescope could be out of action for three days after a rally because it would have to be re-aluminised.
It was estimated that a nights viewing on a telescope was worth around $10,000.
