|
|
| Search RSAA
|
 |
 |
|
Scientific Instrument Engineering in the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics
|
Because the equipment used in astronomy is very specialised and not readily
available from commercial sources, much of it is designed and constructed in-house.
To facilitate this, the RSAA is equipped with specialised
engineering facilities. These include a mechanical engineering design office,
an instrument making workshop, an electronic design and manufacturing section,
an optics design and manufacturing laboratory, and a software group to design
and implement computer control systems for telescopes, instruments and data
reduction.
|
|
|
For many years, these facilities have been producing much of the optical
instrumentation used by the school’s telescopes. Even the major telescope, the
2.3m at Siding Spring Observatory (SSO),
was largely designed and constructed
in-house. Most recently, the RSAA has become involved in providing instrument
design and construction for international telescopes. This instrumentation
generally requires precision mechanics, cryogenic
enclosures, custom reflective and refractive optics, electronic control systems
and low light level detection systems for both the optical and near infrared.
The RSAA also has access to and experience in utilising more specialised
workshop equipment elsewhere in the ANU.
|
Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre
|
The Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre, which replaced the workshops destroyed in the fires of January 2003, offers expanded design, manufacturing and testing capabilities for precision optical instruments, opportunities for higher degree student participation in technical projects, and a research and development program focusing on Extremely Large Telescopes.
|
AITC contruction
The AITC was opened in October 2006 and you can see some images and movies of the building's construction.
|
Home
About Us
Technology
