Editing Perth Observatory (section)

===Recent history===
The Observatory has fought off several attempts to close the facility by the [[Government of Western Australia|State Government]], the most serious being in 1987 when it was part of the Department of State Services. An outcry from the public, scientific and amateur communities was helpful in retaining the observatory.

As of July 2015, The Perth Observatory Volunteer Group runs the Observatory under a community partnership agreement between the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the Perth Observatory Volunteer Group which was signed in June 2015.

====Centenary 1996====
In January 1996, the centenary of its foundation, the observatory was transferred to the Department of Conservation and Land Management, now part of the [[Department of Parks and Wildlife (Western Australia)]].<ref>[http://www.atnf.csiro.au/pasa/14_2/biggs/ Spreading the Word – Western Style: Education and Public Awareness Programmes at Perth Observatory] James Biggs, Astronomical Society of Australia 1997. Retrieved 11 February 2007.</ref>

====Bickley Observatory heritage listed====
In 2005 the Bickley site was heritage listed, being Australia's oldest continuing operating observatory and Australia's only remaining State Government operated astronomical observatory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/4ce87c15-3324-4c5c-9963-8b1b97340a17|title=Perth Observatory|publisher=Heritage Council, State Heritage Office|date=8 February 2015|access-date=22 February 2015}}</ref>

====Publication====
The ''Western Australian astronomy almanac'' was published in the 2000s by the DEC as part of the Observatory expertise, utilising staff of the Observatory to edit and contribute. The 2002 publication for the 2003 almanac had an extra subtitle which was not utilised in later editions: ''the really useful guide to the wonders of the night sky''.<ref>{{Citation | author1=Perth Observatory | title=Western Australian astronomy almanac 2003 : the really useful guide to the wonders of the night sky | date=2002 | publisher=Perth Observatory | isbn=978-0-9581963-0-7 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Western Australia. Dept. of Conservation and Land Management | author2=Perth Observatory | title=Western Australian astronomy almanac | date=2000 | publisher=Perth Observatory | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/17705673 | access-date=17 March 2013 }} (2003 – 2012, not published in 2011 )</ref>

It had been preceded by ''Astronomical Data'' (1965–1990)<ref>{{Citation | author1=Perth Observatory | title=Astronomical data | date=1965 | publisher=The Observatory | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/18540604 | access-date=17 March 2013 }}</ref> and the ''Astronomical Handbook'' (1989–1992 ?).<ref>{{Citation | author1=Perth Observatory | title=Astronomical handbook | date=1989 | publisher=The Observatory | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/19181960 | access-date=17 March 2013 }}</ref>