Siding Spring 2.3 m Telescope
 | |
| Alternative names | Advanced Technology Telescope |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | New South Wales, AUS |
| Coordinates | 31°16′18″S 149°03′44″E / 31.27167°S 149.06232°E |
| Organization | Australian National University |
| Altitude | 1,165 m |
| Diameter | 2.3 m |
| Secondary diameter | 0.3 m |
| Focal length | f/2.05 |
| Mounting | Altazimuth mount |
| Enclosure | Co-rotating |
  Location of Advanced Technology Telescope | |
 Related media on Commons | |
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, bold features and design: an unusually thin mirror, an alt-az mount and co-rotating dome.[1][2] The optical telescope has Altazimuth mount and a primary mirror with a focal length of f/2.05.[2] It is housed in a box-shaped building which rotates as the telescope tracks objects.
History
[edit]The telescope was the initiative of Don Mathewson. It was inaugurated Prime Minister, Bob Hawke on 16 May 1984.[3] It was regarded as an achievement in high technology for Australia. In 1985, it won an award from the Institution of Engineers.[3]
In 2023 the telescope was automated to robotically study astrophysical explosions[4]
Mirror
[edit]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.[3] The light mirror and rotating design allows the telescope to be rapidly moved as observations are made.
Instruments and Programs
[edit]Instrumentation includes an integral wide-field spectrograph known as WiFeS[5], an echelle spectrograph, and a Nasmyth imager. The telescope is a workhorse for numerous large programs where it is used to do follow-up observations on objects of interest before more extensive observations are made at larger telescopes. It is also a valuable tool for training students in the astronomical observing techniques. It currently has the following programs in the Southern Hemisphere :
- Dark Energy Bedrock All Sky Survey (DEBass)[6]: Spectroscopic follow-up program to accurately observe low redshift type Ia supernovae. It's main goal is to measure dark siren to unprecedented precision.
- Bright siren follow-up: A target of opportunity program to follow-up LIGO Scientific Collaboration gravitational wave alerts of transients associated with binary neutron star or black hole neutron star mergers. Combining the source redshift with the luminosity distance measurement from the gravitational wave signal will allow for an independent measure of the expansion rate of the Universe.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Mathewson, Don S. (2013). "The Australian National University's 2.3m New Generation Telescope At Siding Spring Observatory". Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage. 16 (1): 2–28 – via Sciengine.
- ^ a b "ANU 2.3m Telescope". ANU College of Physical & Mathematical Sciences. The Australian National University. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "2.3m Automation | The Centre for Gravitational Astrophysics". cga.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "Wide-Field Spectrograph (WiFeS)". Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "DEBASS | Home". www.mso.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
