Anglo-Australian Telescope
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| Location(s) |
Siding Spring Observatory  , Australia
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| Coordinates | 31°16′31″S 149°04′01″E / 31.2754°S 149.067°ECoordinates: 31°16′31″S 149°04′01″E / 31.2754°S 149.067°E |
| Organisation |
Australian Astronomical Observatory
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| Built | –1974 |
| First light | 27 April 1974
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| Telescope style |
optical telescope, Cassegrain reflector
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| Diameter | 3.9 m (12 ft 10 in) |
| Collecting area | 12 m2 (130 sq ft) |
| Focal length | 12.7 m (42 ft) |
| Mounting | Equatorial mount |
| Enclosure |
Spherical dome
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| Website | www |
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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 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.
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. It was the largest telescope in the Southern hemisphere from 1974-1976, then a close second to the Victor M. Blanco Telescope from 1976 until 1998, when the first ESO VLT was opened. The AAT was credited with stimulating a resurgence in British optical astronomy. It was constructed by Australia and the United Kingdom but has been entirely funded by Australia since 2010. 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 very first telescopes to be fully computer-controlled, and set new standards for pointing and tracking accuracy.
Richard van der Riet Woolley pushed for a large optical telescope for the southern hemisphere in 1959. A Joint Policy Committee started work on construction planning in August 1967. It took until September 1969 for plans to be finalised. The agreement initially committed the specification to a telescope design based on the Kitt Peak telescope until its deficiencies were known. Both the horseshoe mount and the gearing system needed improvements. Although the revised gear system was considerably more expensive it was significantly more accurate, lending itself well to unforeseen applications.
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