Anglo-Australian Telescope

The Anglo-Australian Telescope is a major optical instrument with a 3.9-meter mirror housed within a seven-story concrete building topped by a 36-meter rotating steel dome. The structure allows the telescope to employ different observing instruments and conduct detailed measurements of distant objects in space.

The telescope was inaugurated in 1974 with a visit by Prince Charles, marking the start of modern astronomical research in the Southern Hemisphere through British-Australian collaboration. This partnership established the foundation for years of intensive scientific work at the site.

The facility brings together astronomers from multiple countries who work collaboratively to study the night sky and make discoveries that shape our understanding of the cosmos. This international partnership has created a research culture where scientists from different nations share data and insights.

The telescope is located at 1,100 meters elevation in the mountains of New South Wales, where clear nights provide good observing conditions. Visitors should know that it gets cool at this altitude and sturdy footwear is helpful when walking around the site.

Between 2001 and 2003, it was the most productive telescope of its size in the world, measured by the number of scientific publications from its observations. This achievement shows how effectively the instrument was used for groundbreaking research.

Location: New South Wales

Inception: 1974

Elevation above the sea: 1,100 m

Diameter: 3.9 m

Part of: Australian Astronomical Observatory, Siding Spring Observatory

Website: https://aao.gov.au/about-us/anglo-australian-telescope

GPS coordinates: -31.27540,149.06700

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:59