Bagnall Beach Observatory

MPC Observatory Code 433

Greg

About Me

My name is Greg Crawford and Bagnall Beach Observatory belongs to me. I was born and live in Australia. My father was a Scottish immigrant to this country and my mother's family also came from the U.K. a few generations before.  Crawford is a Scottish name and a certain Margaret Crawford was the mother of Scottish patriot, Sir William Wallace (1274?-1305). (If you've never heard of William Wallace, see the movie "Braveheart"). After the death of his father at the hands of the English, Wallace was taken into the home of his uncle, Sir Reginald (Ronald) Crawford, 4th Sheriff of Ayrshire. He would later be joined by his cousins William, Ronald and Patrick Crawford, in the revolt against the English. William Crawford became Wallace’s second in command in the Wars of Scottish Independence, and William Crawford drove the English out of Scotland after the Battle of Stirling Bridge. But hey, all this was in the 13th century. In the21st century, English people are some of my finest friends! For more information, see here: http://www.clancrawford.org

As a teenager I was very interested in science and technology, especially astronomy. I also was fascinated by ancient history. However, my life was also affected by experiences in the realm of Christian spirituality. After tertiary studies in psychology and social theory, I took the unusual step of doing  post-graduate studies in theology and becoming a clergyman.

Some people operate under the misapprehension that science and religion are enemies which exist in tension . Outside of the peculiar environment of North  American fundamentalism, this is simply not true. However, the notion is perpetuated by what historians call the "Galileo Myth". (For more on this see this page).

Blue Skies, Nothin’ But Blue Skies

Living with an amateur astronomer can be a pain—just ask my wife. Moods are controlled by the weather. Cloudy nights can bring on depression, unless one has many images taken on clear nights which need to be processed.

The view on the right through the porthole of the observatory is just the kind of thing I like to see around dusk. A clear blue sky which fades into what one of our Australian poets described as the “endless glory of the everlasting stars.”

There have been occasions when, while on leave from my work, I have spent all night at the telescope and caught up on sleep during the day. It is a wonderful experience to watch the stars move across the sky during the course of the night and then retire from the observatory as the dawn breaks. It raises the consciousness that we take part in a gravitational dance with other celestial bodies in our solar system, which determines so many of the basic characteristics of life on Earth.

Family

I am married to Rosemary, who is a Registered Nurse and an experienced Nurse Manager and Educator. We are a couple of D.I.N.K.S. (double-income-no-kids). Don’t get us wrong. Some of our favourite people are kids.

Rosemary has some interest in astronomy, but not enough to brave mosquitoes in summer or the cold in winter. Nevertheless, she will often pinch my copy of Sky & Space magazine.

This is my most sultry picture of Rosemary. ...Well, of those that I’d show you!

Inside the observatory

Rosemary

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