Searching the skies

@JudyEv (382019)
Rockingham, Australia
April 22, 2026 6:50am CST
At Easter, we went to Nungarin Military Museum to watch them operate a searchlight which was in use during World War II. When first found, the searchlight was in a number of pieces. It was restored over several years by some enthusiasts. It wasn’t an easy task as no-one knew anything about it and there was no manual. The lamp works very similarly to an arc welder but this one burns carbon rods. The intense heat gives a brilliant light which reflects in the highly polished reflector and is then focussed through the magnifying lenses at the front. I do know that once the light is operational, it needs continual and minute adjustments by an operator. That’s about all I know about the light so please don’t ask me any technical questions. The photo is mine. The yellow spot just above the beam on the right-hand side is the moon.
13 people like this
10 responses
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
22 Apr
Sounds like an interesting museum.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr
There is a huge amount to see there. Always something that you didn't notice the previous time.
1 person likes this
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
23 Apr
@JudyEv I always have enjoyed museums.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr
@Tampa_girl7 Me too. You see some great stuff at some of these.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135690)
• Marion, Ohio
22 Apr
That would be a hard puzzle to put together
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135690)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Apr
@JudyEv Looks like a lot of parts
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr
@wolfgirl569 Imagine trying to put that together with nothing to go on.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr
It's quite intricate inside.
1 person likes this
Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
3 May
It is quite interesting to see how the Technology has evolved over the years. Seeing such technical marvels at a place excites us. One starts thinking more about how these things were operated back in time. Wars might not be great events but seeing how different things were operated in wars back in the time is something many of us are keen to know about.
1 person likes this
Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
5 May
@JudyEv Technology and mapping and surveillance systems mean that enemies can be attacked from thousands of miles away without being in shooting distance of each other. Access or resource denial through cyber warfare is another big change and is very scary.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 May
People have been at war for a great many years but the process has totally changed. War is nothing like it used to be.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502394)
• Italy
22 Apr
I remember you wrote about the Military Museum. That light does not seem easy to operate.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502394)
• Italy
23 Apr
@JudyEv - I am sure it was not a pleasant job.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr
I was surprised to learn that someone had to monitor it continually. It's good it was only used during night-time.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222310)
• United States
24 Apr
I had no idea that the light burned rods.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Apr
Interesting, isn't it? And someone had to check it all the time.
1 person likes this
Jimbo45
@Ineeddentures (34281)
•
22 Apr
Wonder how far the light can illuminate
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr
They put a drone up and it had no trouble showing that but that wouldn't have been as high as a plane.
1 person likes this
Jimbo45
@Ineeddentures (34281)
•
24 Apr
@JudyEv Right enough A plane would be a lot higher Judy
1 person likes this
snowy
@snowy22315 (208847)
• United States
23 Apr
It would be interesting to see one of those big searchlights in person.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr
I found it interesting the way the light just seemed to cut out at a certain point.
1 person likes this
Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (56199)
• Canada
23 Apr
That would be such an interesting museum to tour, so informational.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr
I find these places fascinating. So different in so many ways from modern day warfare.
1 person likes this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (97991)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Apr
Sounds like an interesting place to visit,
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr
We were fascinated by all the exhibits.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
22 Apr
I have quite a few technical questions, but I know you won’t be able to answer any of them. So that’s what a moon looks like.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr
The moon that night was almost a full moon but the search light sort of overwhelmed it.
1 person likes this