PLANS for an observatory to be built at Clarendon House have been shelved.
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The Astronomical Society of Tasmania had lodged a Tasmanian Community Fund grant application for $80,000 to build the observatory, but missed out on funding last year.
The society's northern coordinator, Michael Booth, said he was philosophical about the outcome.
"It would have been a fairly time (and) labour intensive project for a small group, but we certainly learnt a lot by going through that process," he said.
"I am disappointed, it would have been great to have such a facility here in the north of the state."
Mr Booth instead plans to lodge a Tasmanian Community Fund application in September in the under $10,000 category to enable the society to purchase two "go to" Dobsonian telescopes.
He said the telescopes would be fully computerised and motorised.
"It would mean that we would have telescopes on site that we could basically set up at a moment's notice, and we wouldn't necessarily have to bring all our own gear out," he said.
"It's a lot less money, and it's a lot easier to justify."
Mr Booth said although plans for the observatory had been put on hold, the society might consider trying again in future.
"Possibly, with a bigger membership and a few more additions to the skill base of the group we could look at it again, I'm certainly not ruling it out," he said.
The society has been gathering monthly at Clarendon House since 2005.
Mr Booth said they also visited community groups on request, and would spend a night at the Tasmanian Aero Club in June, and one at Mount Pleasant Estate in July.