The largest telescope in Victoria will be officially unveiled on Saturday at a special event near Heathcote.
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The Astronomical Society of Victoria (ASV) - the leading astronomy group in the Southern Hemisphere - raised $750,000 for the new 40-inch Hubble Optics Telescope, which took five years to build.
"It puts Heathcote on the map as the gateway to the universe," ASV President Perry Vlahos said.
"Through the testing phase, I managed to have it to myself for an hour," he said. "I've looked through an awful number of telescopes, but this view was simply unparalleled."
"It's a feast for the human eye," he said. "There are no other facilities like it in Victoria."
Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel will officially open the telescope at a ceremony at the Leon Mow Dark Sky Site, near Heathcote.
Former Premier Ted Baillieu, Nationals MP Steph Ryan and City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Margaret O'Rourke will also be in attendance.
The telescope will eventually be open to the public, schools and universities.
"People will be able to see for themselves what is out there in the cosmos," Mr Vlahos said.
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