November 8, 2020
The overall reaction of the members attending the TM Universe AGM was one of surprise. Surprise that this project has progressed much further than they had expected, with a solid organisation established, a knowledgeable and dedicated Board, and the plans for the future precinct more advanced than most of the members had expected. This 15 meter diameter sphere shaped planetarium will be the first in the Southern Hemisphere, and the biggest in the world. It will give visitors a sense of the universe and space research that cannot be achieved in any other way. One of the preliminary designs by architects, by Clark+Granger, showed a 3D presentation of a black and yellow, very contemporary building in a way that it looked like it had already been built. The focus of TM Universe will be threefold: Indigenous Astronomy, Life in the Universe and Australian Space Research. The precinct to be built will include an area for occasional stargazing, a Universe Experience and Education Centre, and the Cosmic Sphere. The visualisation of these concept was very informative. Last but not least. Only 90 blocks are left for sale in the main fundraiser called Buy a Block, which not only makes you one of 200 Founding Members of the project, but also a member of TM Universe till end of 2021. Donations are also happily accepted. At the end of the meeting the TM Universe Team predicted that the venue will be opened on the day that a little spacecraft, Osiris-Rex, returns to earth with 60grams of dust collected last week at an asteroid called Bennu. The date? 24 September 2023. We've got work to do... Join us for the ride of the century as we aim for the stars.