A ghostly apparition at Sydney Observatory’s Festival of the Stars?

The south facade of Sydney Observatory on the evening of Saturday 5 July 2008, image Rita

We have received the image above and the email below from Rita who, with her husband, visited Sydney Observatory’s Festival of the Stars on the evening of Saturday 5 July 2008. Rita does not know who is in the photo and my colleagues have no recollection of seeing any of the night’s 900 or so visitors dressed in an old-fashioned formal winter coat like the person in the photo appears to be wearing. So who was he?

Hi my name is Rita, and last Saturday night (5th July 2008) my husband and I were there at the observatory during the “Festival of the stars”.

I just would like to share a liitle something with you that seemed a little strange but very interesting.

Later on in the evening just before we were leaving approx 10pm I was taking some photos of the buildings. I am a very ameteur photographer and I tried the Night setting on the camera and took the photo of the side of the building.

There was definatley nobody around except my husband and I. Anyway when I downloaded the photos to the computer, there seemed to be an aparition of a man, with one arm behind his back. (This is not my hisband because he was standing just near me not in front of me.) Seemed a little spooky to me, but I believe you have a few ghosts on the premises.

This is no trick photography, and it could be the “night setting” on the camera distorting the picture somehow, I don’t know, but I thought you might be interested. Enjoy!!

Bye the way it was a great night out and this photo has been a great talking point amongst my friends and family.