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Above: Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre (AITC),
RSAA's first cab off the rank in the reconstruction after the
18 January 2003 firestorm. Click image for larger version.
Mt Stromlo Observatory at The Australian National University today
partly consigns the 2003 Canberra bushfires to the past and looks
forward to a giant future with the opening of a new facility that
could see components and instruments for the world's most powerful
telescope, the Giant Magellan Telescope, built at the iconic
observatory.
The ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics (RSAA) Advanced
Instrumentation and Technology Centre (AITC) was officially opened
today by Federal Education Minister, the Hon. Julie Bishop MP. The
Federal Government, through the Department of Education, Science and
Training, contributed $7.3 million towards the building.
  
Click images for larger versions.
Left: ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Chubb and
Federal Education Minister, the Hon. Julie Bishop MP
share a moment of humour at the official opening of RSAA's
Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre (AITC).
Centre: The minister delivers her speech before the unveiling of the plaque ...
Right: ... and afterwards congratulates the Vice-Chancellor,
with RSAA's Director, Professor Penny Sackett, in the background.
ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Chubb said the AITC opening heralded
a new era for ANU participation in the international development of
large astronomical instrumentation.
“This new facility goes beyond simply replacing lost buildings,
extending the capacity of the University to play a key role in some of
the most exciting and visionary international projects in astronomy,
including the proposed Giant Magellan Telescope,” Professor Chubb
said.
“The Centre will help ensure that the national university is able to
continue its leadership in astronomical engineering, astrophysics and
astronomical research.”
  
Click images for larger versions.
Left: The Vice-Chancellor explains the significance of the
establishment of a state-of-the-art astronomical engineering facility
at ANU to the Federal Education Minister, as they and RSAA's Director
view an audio-visual on the future of astronomical engineering.
Centre: The Minister catches a sense of the excitement,
in discussion with the university's Vice-Chancellor.
Right: A contemplative moment for RSAA's Director.
While the AITC has been designed specifically with the capacity to
assist the GMT project, it will offer immediate benefit to Mt Stromlo
staff by enabling the school to integrate its academic, technical and
education activities. The building contains state-of-the-art
laboratories for research and development of new technologies, a large
Integration Hall for assembling instruments for telescopes and a
walkway that will allow the public to view work in the building
without disrupting staff.
RSAA Director Professor Penny Sackett said the AITC cemented
Australia's participation in front-line international astronomical
research.
“It's essential that Australian researchers have access to
the best facilities in the world to participate in the global effort
to better understand the Universe around us. This facility keeps
Stromlo, which has always been at the forefront of astronomy and its
instrumentation, on the map, and allows us to play an important role
in future developments.
“In addition to being a founding member of the GMT consortium –
which will eventually help detect and study planets around other suns,
probe the dark matter and dark energy that controls the expansion and
development of the cosmos, and unlock the secrets of star and planet
formation – we are also engaged in a number of other collaborative
projects that will benefit from the new centre.
  
Click images for larger versions.
Left: Under development, a wide-field imager instrument for the
SkyMapper telescope being built at RSAA's Siding Spring Observatory.
The SkyMapper telescope replaces Mount Stromlo Observatory's
50 inch telescope, lost in the 18 January 2003 firestorm.
Centre: The view to the Brindabellas from the AITC's
integration hall is pretty spectacular!
Right: At the opening of RSAA's AITC: RSAA Associate Director for Instrumentation and Technology,
Dr Peter McGregor (left); Head of Science at the Anglo Australian Observatory, Dr Chris Tinney (centre left);
RSAA Executive Officer, Ms Suzanne Mendes (centre); Director of the Anglo Australian Observatory,
Professor Matthew Colless (centre right); and RSAA Research Fellow, Dr Alister Graham (right).
“ANU is also partner in the Mileura Wide-field Array project that
will be built in Western Australia to probe very early times in the
Universe soon after the Big Bang. One of the first projects to be
undertaken in the AITC will be the development by RSAA engineers of
fast signal processing systems for the MWA,” Professor Sackett said.
“Every new generation of telescopes demands more complex and efficient
instruments. This centre means that Stromlo will long have the
facilities to play a role in the development of new technology.”
ANU Media Office: Jane O'Dwyer 02 6125 5001 or 0416 249 231
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