Australian Astronomical Observatory

The Australian Astronomical Observatory is a research facility perched on a mountain plateau at Siding Spring with two large telescopes dedicated to observing the night sky in visible light. The site houses the Anglo-Australian Telescope at 3.9 meters across and the UK Schmidt Telescope at 1.2 meters, which together enable thousands of observation nights each year.

The facility emerged from a partnership between British and Australian scientists in the 1960s and was completed in 1974. This international collaboration shaped optical astronomy research in the southern hemisphere for decades to follow.

The facility maintains strong connections with Macquarie University and the Australian National University, fostering research in astronomical sciences through educational partnerships.

The observatory sits at about 1,160 meters (3,800 feet) elevation on a quiet mountain station far from city lights and pollution. The best time to visit and observe is during clear dark nights in the drier months when weather conditions are most stable.

The WiggleZ survey maps the light shifts from 200,000 distant galaxies to unlock secrets about dark energy in the universe. These observations provide clues about how the cosmos expands and evolves over cosmic time.

Location: New South Wales

Inception: 1939

Elevation above the sea: 1,164 m

Website: https://aao.gov.au

GPS coordinates: -33.79621,151.14512

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:48