08-27-2017, 01:31 PM
HOTPE - yes, that's pretty much how it works (although we don't have guards on MK!). Although many of the MK observatories have moved to remote operations, typically an observatory at night will have a couple of astronomers working at night and during the day, far more support staff will be there for maintenance, instrument changes and fixing problems. The computing and admin staff tend to stay at the base facility, but not always, and if a computer needs fixing you'll often find them at the telescope as well during the day. Even some admin people have to go up on occasion.
A major observatory requires a massive amount of support (the TMT more so than any if it gets built, it's so complex) and most of that is not done by astronomers, although some of us like to be involved in both areas.
Much of its multi-year construction would also be done by locals, just like the other observatories.
As for using the language of physics and astronomy at the observatory, yes, that definitely happens, it's necessary for what we're actually doing, but I can assure you during a long night on MK we'll also talk and joke just like normal people! We'd go nuts if we didn't.
A major observatory requires a massive amount of support (the TMT more so than any if it gets built, it's so complex) and most of that is not done by astronomers, although some of us like to be involved in both areas.
Much of its multi-year construction would also be done by locals, just like the other observatories. As for using the language of physics and astronomy at the observatory, yes, that definitely happens, it's necessary for what we're actually doing, but I can assure you during a long night on MK we'll also talk and joke just like normal people! We'd go nuts if we didn't.