Mount Pleasant Radio Observatory, Radio astronomy observatory in Cambridge, Tasmania

Mount Pleasant Radio Observatory is a facility for radio astronomy research in Tasmania equipped with multiple antennas of different sizes and functions. The site uses a fiber optic connection to the university to transmit data and conduct observations.

The 26 m dish was built at the Orroral Valley Tracking Station in the Australian Capital Territory, where it tracked satellites in the Spacecraft Tracking and Data Acquisition Network and supported NASA crewed missions. It was later relocated to Mount Pleasant and now works in Australia's very long baseline interferometry network. The 14 m Vela telescope, built on site in 1981 for the Vela Pulsar, was decommissioned in 2006 and is being refurbished.

The site reflects how radio astronomy has become part of modern scientific practice, with different generations of equipment working together on the grounds. Visitors can see how space research shapes the work of researchers today.

The facility is located about 25 kilometers from the university in a quiet area outside the city. Visitors should check ahead since access is limited and guided tours are offered only at certain times.

One of the telescopes observed a cosmic pulsar over two decades, gathering valuable data about this astrophysical phenomenon. This long-term project gave researchers insights that could not have been achieved through shorter observation periods.