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Siding Spring 2.3 m Telescope

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Coordinates: 31°16′18″S 149°03′45″E / 31.2717°S 149.0624°E / -31.2717; 149.0624
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Advanced Technology Telescope
Alternative namesAdvanced Technology Telescope Edit this at Wikidata
Location(s)New South Wales, AUS
Coordinates31°16′18″S 149°03′44″E / 31.27167°S 149.06232°E / -31.27167; 149.06232 Edit this at Wikidata
OrganizationAustralian National University
Altitude1,165 m
Diameter2.3 m
Secondary diameter0.3 m
Focal lengthf/2.05
MountingAltazimuth mount
EnclosureCo-rotating
Siding Spring 2.3 m Telescope is located in Australia
Siding Spring 2.3 m Telescope
Location of Advanced Technology Telescope
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The 2.3 metre telescope at Siding Spring Observatory is operated by the Australian National University. The Advanced Technology Telescope was constructed during the early 1980s and featured at-the-time radical[citation needed] features: an unusually thin mirror, an alt-az mount and co-rotating dome.[1] The optical telescope has Altazimuth mount and a primary mirror with a field of view of f/2.05.[1] It is housed in a box-shaped building which rotates as the telescope tracks objects.

Instrumentation includes an integral field spectrograph known as WiFeS, a Nasmyth imager and a Cassegrain IR imager (CASPIR). The telescope is a workhorse for numerous large programs where it is used to winnow down candidate objects for more extensive observation at larger telescopes and is a valuable tool for training graduate students in the at-times black arts of observing.

History

The telescope was the initiative of Don Mathewson. It was inaugurated Prime Minister, Bob Hawke on 16 May 1984.[2] It was regarded as an achievement in high technology for Australia. In 1985, it won an award from the Institution of Engineers.[2]

Mirror

The mirror used in the telescope is much thinner than those typically used in a telescope mirror. Its ratio of diameter to thickness is about 20:1.[2] The light mirror and rotating design allows the telescope to be rapidly moved as observations are made.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "ANU 2.3m Telescope". ANU College of Physical & Mathematical Sciences. The Australian National University. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Haynes, Raymond (1996). Explorers of the Southern Sky: A History of Australian Astronomy. Cambridge University Press. pp. 184–185. ISBN 0521365759. Retrieved 15 April 2013.

31°16′18″S 149°03′45″E / 31.2717°S 149.0624°E / -31.2717; 149.0624{{#coordinates:}}: cannot have more than one primary tag per page

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