The typhoon wind was so strong that observatory instruments capable of registering winds up to 125 mph broke down.

While large observatory instruments may be highly automated, few are operated without attendants.

All that was needed were some observatory instruments that could be built without a high technology.

Libby was able to establish quickly, through proper motions of nearest stars, that it was not later than about 3700 A.D.; without precise observatory instruments he refused to commit himself further.

The observatory instruments include two radio telescopes (32'/10m and 26'/8m diameter), and a range of optical instruments, including one 24" Classical cassegrain telescope, a 14" and 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, and one 12" Dobsonian telescope.