Anglo-Australian Telescope

Anglo-Australian Telescope
Part ofAustralian Astronomical Observatory
Siding Spring Observatory Edit this on Wikidata
Location(s)New South Wales, AUS
Coordinates31°16′31″S 149°04′01″E / 31.2754°S 149.067°E / -31.2754; 149.067 Edit this at Wikidata
OrganizationAustralian Astronomical Observatory Edit this on Wikidata
Altitude1,100 m (3,600 ft) Edit this at Wikidata
Built–1974 (–1974) Edit this at Wikidata
First light27 April 1974 Edit this on Wikidata
Telescope styleCassegrain reflector
optical telescope Edit this on Wikidata
Diameter3.9 m (12 ft 10 in) Edit this at Wikidata
Collecting area12 m2 (130 sq ft) Edit this at Wikidata
Focal length12.7 m (41 ft 8 in) Edit this at Wikidata
Enclosurespherical dome Edit this on Wikidata
Websitewww.aao.gov.au/about-us/anglo-australian-telescope Edit this at Wikidata
Anglo-Australian Telescope is located in Australia
Anglo-Australian Telescope
Location of Anglo-Australian Telescope
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The Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) is a 3.9-metre equatorially mounted telescope operated by the Australian Astronomical Observatory and situated at the Siding Spring Observatory, Australia, at an altitude of a little over 1,100 m. In 2009, the telescope was ranked as having the fifth-highest-impact of the world's optical telescopes. In 2001–2003, it was considered the most scientifically productive 4-metre-class optical telescope in the world based on scientific publications using data from the telescope.[1][2]

The telescope was commissioned in 1974 with a view to allowing high-quality observations of the sky from the Southern Hemisphere. At the time, most major telescopes were located in the Northern Hemisphere, leaving the southern skies poorly observed.[3] It was the largest telescope in the Southern Hemisphere from 1974 to 1976, then a close second to the Víctor M. Blanco Telescope from 1976 until 1998, when the first ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) was opened. The AAT was credited with stimulating a resurgence in British optical astronomy.[3] It was built by the United Kingdom in partnership with Australia but has been entirely funded by Australia since 2010.[4] Observing time is available to astronomers worldwide.

The AAT was one of the last large telescopes built with an equatorial mount. More recent large telescopes have instead adopted the more compact and mechanically stable altazimuth mount. The AAT was, however, one of the first telescopes to be fully computer-controlled, and set new standards for pointing and tracking accuracy.

  1. ^ Watson, Fred (6 January 2009). "Across the universe". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  2. ^ Plonter, Tammy (11 September 2008). "Australian Telescope Leads the World in Astronomy Research". Universe Today.
  3. ^ a b Home, Roderick Weir (1990). Australian Science in the Making. Cambridge University Press. p. 360. ISBN 0521396409. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  4. ^ Lomb, Nick (15 June 2010). "Australia's largest optical telescope to become part of the Australian Astronomical Observatory on 1 July 2010 and to celebrate its 36th birthday". Sydney Observatory.