MAY’S LIGHTNING STRIKE at the Harry Bayley Observatory was the first time in its more than 50-year history that it had been damaged by lightning.
However, said operations manager of the Barbados Astronomical Society, Ade Alleyne, the experience had taught them they definitely needed some kind of lightning conductor to prevent future incidents.
Alleyne explained the lightning hit an antenna used to track the International Space Station. It was that antenna which saved the fibreglass dome. That was why, he added, there was no evidence of the lightning strike on the outside of the dome itself.
“That was the point of contact. The antenna was damaged and so was the computer it was connected to. Other than that, everything else was fine. (HLE)
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