Mopra Telescope, Radio telescope near Coonabarabran, Australia

The Mopra Telescope is a 22-metre radio telescope near Coonabarabran, New South Wales, close to Mopra Rock and Siding Spring Observatory. Its 3-mm receiver observes between 75 and 115 GHz, and the Mopra Spectrometer backend, commissioned in 2006, provides up to 8 GHz instantaneous bandwidth with zoom modes for high-resolution studies.

The telescope was built to observe at millimeter wavelengths and received the Mopra Spectrometer in 2006 for advanced research. This upgrade expanded its ability to study the sky and improved its scientific capabilities.

The name Mopra comes from Mopra Rock, a geological formation overlooking the telescope site near Coonabarabran. The facility stands close to the Siding Spring optical observatory in Warrumbungle National Park, so radio and optical astronomy share this stretch of New South Wales. The 22-metre dish is operated by CSIRO as part of the Australia Telescope National Facility.

Scientists operate the telescope remotely from a control center where they monitor observations. Visitors should know that this is an active research facility where access may be limited to specific areas or times.

On 16 September 2015, scientists raised $65,000 through crowdfunding to postpone the telescope's closure, which CSIRO had announced in 2014 after that year's federal budget. The campaign bought time for the 22-metre dish rather than reversing the decision.