Stargazing at Siding Spring Observatory
This time-lapse video compiles new sequences showing the espectacular dark sky over Siding Spring Observatory (Coonabarabran, NSW), where our 3.9m Anglo-Australian Telescope is located.
See the breathtaking Milky Way setting and rising, the telescopes moving chasing different targets, the majestic Magellanic Clouds revolving near the South Celestial Pole, the stars travelling across the sky as the Earth rotates, the Moon illuminating the observatory, and a colourful sunset.
All the sequences were taken between September 2015 and May 2018.
We recommend you watch this video in high-resolution (4K if possible).
Credit: Ángel R. López-Sánchez (Australian Astronomical Observatory / Macquarie University)
Music: Epic Cinematric Trailer, by Alex Che (2016).
Open Day at Siding Spring Observatory | Warrumbungle National Park | Coonabarabran NSW | Australia
Siding Spring Observatory (SSO), on the edge of the Warrumbungle National Park near Coonabarabran, NSW, is Australia's premier optical and infrared astronomical observatory.
For one day a year, Siding Spring Observatory opens its telescopes to the public. It's your chance to take a closer look at the operations of Australia's largest optical telescope site.
Tour the telescopes with ANU staff! Hear talks by world famous astronomers! Watch 3D films in the Exploratory Centre and see science displays in the AAT main floor! Enjoy activities for the whole family including local market stalls, solar viewing and much , much more! Eat at the Dome Café or grab a sausage on the way round. No booking required - just come on up!
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The Sky over Siding Spring Observatory
The sun sets at Siding Spring Observatory (Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia) and the stars appear. Astronomers are now using the telescopes to unveil the mysteries of the Universe. This 4:30 minute video compiles the best time-lapse sequences obtained at Siding Spring Observatory by astronomer Ángel R. López-Sánchez (AAO/Macquarie University) between August 2011 and March 2013, during his support astronomer duties for the 4-metre Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT).
Full description at the AAO video page:
Throughout the video, watch for several astronomical objects: our Milky Way Galaxy, the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, the Moon rising and setting, the planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, Zodiacal Light, Earth-orbiting satellites, airplanes crossing the sky, the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters, the Coalsack and the Carina nebulae, and famous constellations like the Southern Cross, Taurus, Orion, and Scorpio.
Telescopes at Siding Spring Observatory featured include the Uppsala Near Earth Object Survey Telescope, the UNSW Automated Patrol Telescope, the 2.3m ANU Telescope, 1.2m Skymapper ANU, the 1.2m UK Schmidt Telescope (AAO) and the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT).
The time-lapse technique consists of taking many images and then adding all to get a movie with a very high resolution. In particular, the camera CANON EOS 600D and two lenses (a 10-20 mm wide-angle lens and a standard 35-80 mm lens) were used to get the frames of this time-lapse video. Except for those frames taken during the sunset in the first scene, frames usually have a 30 seconds exposure time, with a ISO speed of 1600. Some few scenes were shot using 15 or 20 seconds exposure time. All sequences were created at 24 fps (frames per second), and hence a second in the movie corresponds to 12 minutes in real time for the majority of the scenes. In total, the video combines around 5800 individual frames. Processing each 10 - 20 seconds sequence took between five and six hours of computer time. Care was taken to remove artifacts and hot pixels from individual frames, minimize background noise, and get an appropriate colour/contrast balance.
Video Credit: Ángel R. López-Sanchez (AAO/MQ)
Music: Point of no return (Robert Subirana)
Siding Springs Australian Observatory and Coonabarabran Bushfires
The Siding Springs Australian Telescope and Observatory is threatened by major bushfires in Coonabarabran. Much damage is caused to the lodge and many of the outer buildings, even possibly the visitors centre.
My Trip to the Anglo-Australian Telescope and Siding Spring Observatory
At the end of December 2008 I visited the Anglo-Australian Telescope - part of the Siding Spring Observatory near Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia - as part of my summer vacation scholarship with the Anglo-Australian Observatory. I got a tour of the telescope and parts of the rest of the observatory and got to watch the night observers/duty astronomers in action for two nights. It was a great experience - amazing location, amazing technology and wonderful people.
Faulkes 2 Meter Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran Australia.
The 2 Meter Faulkes Telescope homing.
Australian Astronomical Observatory, Siding Spring, NSW
JirJirak Photography
by Hosein Hashemizadeh
AstroPodcast Visits the AAT- Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran
AstroPodcast pays a visit to the 4m AAT telescope at Siding Spring. It's in that position as the fibre optics are being upgraded. Subscribe to the podcast to hear interviews from astronomers around the world
Siding Spring Observatory Tour - Nov 2011
In November 2011 we travelled with members of The Northern Sydney Astronomical Society to Coonabarabran in NSW and had a tour of Siding Spring Observatory. The tour included many domes and instruments but the highlights were the 48 inch U.K. Schmidt and the 3.0 metre AAT.
The AAT is the largest optical telescope in Australia. Info about it here:
Inside the dome of the AAT telescope at Siding Springs observatory. Near Coonabarabran NSW Australi
The inside of the dome of the AAT telescope at Siding Springs observatory near Coonabarabran NSW Australia. Starfest open day 2016.
The Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) at Siding Spring Observatory
Get to know the technology behind the AAT and learn about the exciting science projects being conducted with it!
CAASTRO, the ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics, is involved in the WiggleZ and GAMA surveys as part of our The Dark Universe research theme.
Video credit: Australian Astronomical Observatory, Sydney
Siding Spring Observatory
Thanks to everyone at Siding Springs Observatory who showed us around!
And credit to Angel Lopez-Sanchez for the amazing time-lapse videos. His homepage, along with links to more videos and photographs, can be found here:
AustralianGeographicAdventures Season 1 Epsiode 7 - Siding Spring Observatory
David heads out to the Warrumbungle National Park’s Siding Spring Observatory for a stunning evening of star spotting.
10 days and nights of skycam at Siding Spring Observatory
10 days worth of timelapse movie from the allsky camera operated by the Automated Patrol Telescope (UNSW) at Siding Spring, near Coonabarabran. The images are taken with a 30 minute interval.
Siding Spring Observatory - Open Day 2013.
Our SSO complex imaged via a UAV with Go-Pro camera.
Light Pollution and Siding Springs Observatory
An ABC radio interview with Linda Mottram and technical staff of ANU from Siding Spring Observatory in Coonabarabran NSW Australia. With increasing artificial light pollution from surrounding towns and mining industry, the threat of closure to the only optical telescope research site in Australia, hosting the largest from both local and international research facilities, has been brought into the news. This clip talks about coal seam gas, other mining and what it means to the future of astronomy for this small country town, and Australia.
Coonabarabran
The 2018 NSAS Field Trip took a 31-member strong group to Coonabarabran for a weekend of visits and astronomical observation and imaging.
Friday night saw us heading to the Milroy Observatory where, with the help of Donna, we were able to use their dobsonian telescopes, including a 20inch one.
I took advantage of the free Saturday morning to explore a couple of walking trails in the Warrumbungle National Park.
The afternoon was devoted to the visit of the Siding Spring Observatory where, thanks to our guide Amanda, we discovered the Faulkes Telescope South of the Las Cumbras Observatory, the I.telescope installations and, the pièce de résistance, the enormous Anglo-Australian Telescope with its 3.9m mirror.
For those of us who had brought their own telescopes, Saturday night brought a great deal of excitement and, sometimes, of disappointment and frustration when all did not work according to plan.
For those, who like me hadn’t taken their scopes with them, the awesome sight of the Milky Way in this unpolluted sky will stay in our memories long enough to make this trip well worthwhile.
L'excursion de la Northern Sydney Astronomical Society pour 2018 a amené un groupe de 31 de ses membres à Coonabarabran pour un week-end de visites et d'observation et d'imagerie astronomiques.
Vendredi soir, nous a vu à l’observatoire de Milroy où, avec l’aide de Donna, nous avons pu utiliser leurs télescopes dont un de 50cm.
Personnellement, j'ai profité du samedi matin libre pour explorer quelques sentiers de randonnée dans le parc national de Warrumbungle.
L'après-midi a été consacrée à la visite de l'Observatoire de Siding Spring où, avec l'aide de notre guide Amanda, nous avons découvert le télescope Faulkes Sud de l'observatoire de Las Cumbras, les installations de I.telescope et, la pièce de résistance, l’énorme Télescope anglo-australien avec son miroir de 3,9m.
Pour ceux d’entre nous qui avaient amené leurs télescopes, le samedi soir a suscité beaucoup d’enthousiasme et, parfois, de déception lorsque tout ne fonctionnait pas comme prévu.
Pour ceux qui comme moi n’avaient pas pris leurs télescopes avec eux, rien que de pouvoir admirer la Voie Lacté dans toute sa splendeur valait le déplacement.
Coonabarabran - Australia's astronomy capital - travel video
A quick video of our whirlwind tour of Coonabarabran. Situated in remote NSW. Literally the middle of nowhere! Wish we could have stayed for longer!
Tourist trip to Siding Springs Observatory in NSW, Australia
Coonabarabran NSW: Town of natural wonders
???? WHAT: Visit to Coonabarabran. ???? WHERE: In NSW, 500km north-west of Sydney in the Western Plains. ❓ WHY: To explore its pretty streets and natural wonders, including the Warrumbungles Range and the vast Pilliga Forest. ???? WHEN: Winter, June. ???? FOOD: Feathers Cafe and Sisterellea's and Golden Sea Dragon Chinese Restaurant . ???? STAYED: Langley Cottage B & B ???? TRANSPORT: Road - all 2WD. ⏰ TIME: Two nights. ???? MORE DETAILS: ???? COMING VIDEO: A day in the Pilliga Forest.