Siding Spring 2.3 m Telescope
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. The optical telescope has Altazimuth mount and a primary mirror with a focal length of f/2.05. It is housed in a box-shaped building which rotates as the telescope tracks objects.
| Alternative names | Advanced Technology Telescope |
|---|---|
| Part of | Siding Spring Observatory |
| Location(s) | New South Wales, AUS |
| Coordinates | 31°16′18″S 149°03′44″E |
| Organization | Australian National University |
| Altitude | 1,165 m |
| Telescope style | optical telescope |
| 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 | |
Instrumentation includes an integral field spectrograph known as WiFeS, 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.