Siding Spring Observatory
Encyclopedia
Siding Spring Observatory near Coonabarabran, New South Wales
, Australia
, part of the Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics (RSAA) at the Australian National University
(ANU), incorporates the Anglo-Australian Telescope
along with a collection of other telescopes owned by the Australian National University, the University of New South Wales, and other institutions. The observatory is situated 1165 metres (3,822.2 ft) above sea level in the Warrumbungle National Park
on Mount Woorat, also known as Siding Spring Mountain. Siding Spring Observatory is owned by the Australian National University (ANU) and is part of the Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories research school. There are currently 12 telescopes on site.
was set up by the Commonwealth Government in 1924. After duty supplying optical components to the military in World War II
, the emphasis on astronomical research changed in the late 1940s from solar to stellar research. Between 1953 and 1974, the 74 inches (1.9 m) reflecting telescope at Mount Stromlo was the largest optical telescope
in Australia.
Already in the 1950s, the artificial lights of Canberra had brightened the sky at Mount Stromlo to such an extent that many faint astronomical objects had been overwhelmed by light pollution
. The Siding Spring site was selected by the ANU in 1962 from many other possible locations because of the dark and cloud-free skies. By the mid-1960s the ANU had set up three telescopes, together with supporting facilities, such as sealed roads, staff accommodation, electricity and water. In 1984, the Prime Minister, Bob Hawke
, opened the ANU's largest telescope, the low-cost and innovative 2.3 m aperture telescope, housed in a simple, co-rotating cuboid dome.
Since the 1950s, and quite independently of developments at Siding Spring, the Australian and British governments had been negotiating about the construction of a very large telescope. When these negotiations finally came to fruition in 1969, the infrastructure of Siding Spring Observatory was already in place, and it was the obvious site at which to locate the 4-metre aperture Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT).
During the constructions of the AAT in the early 1970s, the British Science Research Council
also built the UK Schmidt Telescope
, 1 km to the NE of the AAT dome. The considerably wider field of view
of the Schmidt optical design complements the narrower field of the AAT, in that larger areas of sky may be surveyed more quickly. Interesting objects so discovered are then studied in greater detail on the larger instrument. In 1987, the Schmidt Telescope was amalgamated with the AAT.
Siding Spring Observatory also houses telescopes from Korea, Las Cumbres Global Telescope Network and the University of New South Wales. In 1990, the earth-satellite
tracking facility of the Royal Greenwich Observatory was closed down after 10 years of operation.
shop. This centre is open Monday to Friday from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends and public holidays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Access to the Anglo Australian Telescope viewing area is open from 9.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. every day. Access is via the visitor centre. During NSW school holidays, guided tours of the site are offered in conjunction with the discovery program of the Warrumbungle National Park.
There is usually an Open Day on the last Sunday in October as a part of the Coonabarabran Festival of the Stars.
Coonabarabran, New South Wales
Coonabarabran is a town in Warrumbungle Shire in northern New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 2,609.-History and description:...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, part of the Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics (RSAA) at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
(ANU), incorporates the Anglo-Australian Telescope
Anglo-Australian Telescope
The Anglo-Australian Telescope is a 3.9 m equatorially mounted telescope operated by the Australian Astronomical Observatory and situated at the Siding Spring Observatory, Australia at an altitude of a little over 1100 m...
along with a collection of other telescopes owned by the Australian National University, the University of New South Wales, and other institutions. The observatory is situated 1165 metres (3,822.2 ft) above sea level in the Warrumbungle National Park
Warrumbungle National Park
Warrumbungle National Park is located in central northern New South Wales, Australia, 550 km northwest of Sydney. Outside of the Sydney metropolitan area parks, it is the most-visited national park in New South Wales....
on Mount Woorat, also known as Siding Spring Mountain. Siding Spring Observatory is owned by the Australian National University (ANU) and is part of the Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories research school. There are currently 12 telescopes on site.
History
The original Mount Stromlo ObservatoryMount Stromlo Observatory
Mount Stromlo Observatory located just outside of Canberra, Australia, is part of the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Australian National University .-History:...
was set up by the Commonwealth Government in 1924. After duty supplying optical components to the military in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the emphasis on astronomical research changed in the late 1940s from solar to stellar research. Between 1953 and 1974, the 74 inches (1.9 m) reflecting telescope at Mount Stromlo was the largest optical telescope
Optical telescope
An optical telescope is a telescope which is used to gather and focus light mainly from the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum for directly viewing a magnified image for making a photograph, or collecting data through electronic image sensors....
in Australia.
Already in the 1950s, the artificial lights of Canberra had brightened the sky at Mount Stromlo to such an extent that many faint astronomical objects had been overwhelmed by light pollution
Light pollution
Light pollution, also known as photopollution or luminous pollution, is excessive or obtrusive artificial light.The International Dark-Sky Association defines light pollution as:...
. The Siding Spring site was selected by the ANU in 1962 from many other possible locations because of the dark and cloud-free skies. By the mid-1960s the ANU had set up three telescopes, together with supporting facilities, such as sealed roads, staff accommodation, electricity and water. In 1984, the Prime Minister, Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
, opened the ANU's largest telescope, the low-cost and innovative 2.3 m aperture telescope, housed in a simple, co-rotating cuboid dome.
Since the 1950s, and quite independently of developments at Siding Spring, the Australian and British governments had been negotiating about the construction of a very large telescope. When these negotiations finally came to fruition in 1969, the infrastructure of Siding Spring Observatory was already in place, and it was the obvious site at which to locate the 4-metre aperture Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT).
During the constructions of the AAT in the early 1970s, the British Science Research Council
Science and Engineering Research Council
The Science and Engineering Research Council used to be the UK agency in charge of publicly funded scientific and engineering research activities including astronomy, biotechnology and biological sciences, space research and particle physics...
also built the UK Schmidt Telescope
UK Schmidt Telescope
The 1.2 metre UK Schmidt Telescope is operated by the Australian Astronomical Observatory , and located adjacent to the 3.9 metre Anglo-Australian Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia...
, 1 km to the NE of the AAT dome. The considerably wider field of view
Field of view
The field of view is the extent of the observable world that is seen at any given moment....
of the Schmidt optical design complements the narrower field of the AAT, in that larger areas of sky may be surveyed more quickly. Interesting objects so discovered are then studied in greater detail on the larger instrument. In 1987, the Schmidt Telescope was amalgamated with the AAT.
Siding Spring Observatory also houses telescopes from Korea, Las Cumbres Global Telescope Network and the University of New South Wales. In 1990, the earth-satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
tracking facility of the Royal Greenwich Observatory was closed down after 10 years of operation.
Visitors
There is a visitors gallery and exhibition area open to the public which also incorporates a cafe and souvenirSouvenir
A souvenir , memento, keepsake or token of remembrance is an object a person acquires for the memories the owner associates with it. The term souvenir brings to mind the mass-produced kitsch that is the main commodity of souvenir and gift shops in many tourist traps around the world...
shop. This centre is open Monday to Friday from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends and public holidays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Access to the Anglo Australian Telescope viewing area is open from 9.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. every day. Access is via the visitor centre. During NSW school holidays, guided tours of the site are offered in conjunction with the discovery program of the Warrumbungle National Park.
There is usually an Open Day on the last Sunday in October as a part of the Coonabarabran Festival of the Stars.
Telescopes at Siding Spring
- 3.9 m Anglo-Australian TelescopeAnglo-Australian TelescopeThe Anglo-Australian Telescope is a 3.9 m equatorially mounted telescope operated by the Australian Astronomical Observatory and situated at the Siding Spring Observatory, Australia at an altitude of a little over 1100 m...
(AAO) - 1.24 m UK Schmidt TelescopeUK Schmidt TelescopeThe 1.2 metre UK Schmidt Telescope is operated by the Australian Astronomical Observatory , and located adjacent to the 3.9 metre Anglo-Australian Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia...
(AAO) - 2.0 m Faulkes Telescope SouthFaulkes Telescope SouthThe Faulkes Telescope South is a clone of the Liverpool Telescope and is located at Siding Spring Observatory. It is a Ritchey-Chrétien telescope....
- 1.3 m SkyMapperSkyMapperSkyMapper is a fully automated 1.35m wide-angle optical telescope at Siding Spring Observatory in northern New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the telescopes of the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the Australian National University...
Telescope (ANU) - 2.3 m Advanced Technology TelescopeSiding Spring 2.3 m TelescopeThe 2.3 m Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory is operated by the Australian National University. The 2.3m Advanced Technology Telescope was constructed during the early 1980s and featured at-the-time radical features: an alt-az mount and co-rotating dome....
(ANU) - 0.5 m Uppsala Southern Schmidt TelescopeUppsala Southern Schmidt TelescopeThe Uppsala Schmidt Telescope was moved to Siding Spring Observatory from Mount Stromlo Observatory in 1980. Has field of view three times as large as the Anglo-Australian Telescope. Uses a spherical not parabolic mirror with 0.6m correcting plate to achieve this. Photographic plates and film used...
- 0.5 m Automated Patrol TelescopeAutomated Patrol TelescopeThe Automated Patrol Telescope is a wide-field CCD imaging telescope, which is operated by the University of New South Wales at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia.-External links:* on the internet...
(UNSW) - 0.45 m ROTSE IIIa, Robotic Optical Transit Search Experiment (UNSW)
- Korean YSTAR Telescope (Korean Southern Observatory)
- 40-inch Telescope (ANU – decommissioned)
- 24-inch Telescope (ANU – decommissioned)
- 16-inch Telescope (ANU – decommissioned)