Siding Spring Observatory

Coonabarabran, Australia's Astronomy Capital

Oct 3, 2009

Siding Spring Observatory, near Coonabarabran, is Australia's largest astronomy research facility. A visitors' gallery and exhibition area is open to the public.

The Commonwealth Government established the original Mt Stromlo Observatory near Canberra in 1924.

Emphasis on astronomical research changed from solar to stellar research during the 1940s. Mt Stromo also supplied optical munitions to the military during World War II.

Australian National University’s [ANU] Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics searched for a new site for their new telescopes during the 1950s.

Canberra’s artificial lights and light pollution overwhelmed many faint astronomical objects.

They chose a site 27 kilometres west of Coonabarabran because of its high elevation (1160 metres above sea-level), clean air, 70% of dark and cloud free skies and a non-turbulent atmosphere for viewing.

The ANU established three telescopes and infrastructure such as sealed roads, staff accommodation, electricity and water by the mid-1960s.

Negotiations began the Australian and British governments began during the 1950s to build a 4-metre aperture Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT). Construction began at Siding Spring during the early 1970s.

The British Science Research Council also built the UK Schmidt Telescope one kilometre north east of the AAT dome, so larger areas of the sky can be surveyed faster, before studied in detail. (The Schmidt Telescope merged with AAT in 1987.)

Prime Minister Robert Hawke opened the ANU’s largest telescope—a low-cost and innovative 2.3 m aperture telescope housed in a simple, co-rotating dome.

Twelve telescopes are dotted around the original site. Professional astronomers worldwide visit Siding Spring Observatory to probe the night sky’s mysteries.

Telescopes from Korea, Las Cumbres Global Telescope Network and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) are also housed at Siding Spring Observatory.

Past projects included mapping the entire southern hemisphere, discovering new planets around other stars and identifying new asteroids and comets near Earth.

Improvements in technology and the Internet enabled astronomers to gaze at the Coonabarabran night sky from the comfort of their own offices thousands of kilometres away.

Visitors Information

The Siding Spring Exploratory houses a small exhibition including information and hands-on activities about the solar system, the universe and details of on-site astronomers’ work.

The Anglo-Australia Telescope dome houses a 3.9 metre telescope which is available for viewing from behind the glass from the fourth floor gallery. The base also provides spectacular views of the Warrumbungles.

The Siding Spring Observatory also includes a Visitors Centre, café and gift shop.

An Open Day usually occurs on the last Sunday in October, as part of Coonabarabran’s Festival of the Stars.

Other attractions include the World’s Largest Virtual Solar System Drive, a scaled model of the Solar System, where planets are located at RTA rest areas and Visitor Information Centres along the five main roads linking the Observatory with Dubbo, Tamworth, Gulgong, Moree and Merriwa.

Bushwalking and camping facilities are available in the nearby Warrumbungle National Park.

The copyright of the article Siding Spring Observatory in Astronomy History is owned by Carolyn M Cash. Permission to republish Siding Spring Observatory in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.