Australian Astronomical Observatory

The Australian Astronomical Observatory operates two advanced telescopes including the 3.9-metre Anglo-Australian Telescope and the 1.2-metre UK Schmidt Telescope at Siding Spring.

The observatory emerged from a 1960s collaboration between British and Australian scientists, leading to construction completion in 1974 at a cost of 16 million Australian dollars.

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

Located at 1164 meters elevation, the observatory specializes in optical and near-infrared astronomy, utilizing fiber optics technology for extensive galaxy surveys.

The observatory's WiggleZ project measures redshifts of 200,000 distant blue star-forming galaxies to expand knowledge about dark energy in the universe.

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: March 18, 2025 07:52