PROJECT —

The Anglo-Australian Observatory (AAO) on top of Siding Spring Mountain in the Warrumbungle Range near Coonabarabran is an internationally respected facility undertaking state of the art astronomical research. It also serves as a major tourist drawcard for Coonabarabran and the surrounding area. While the Siding Spring mountain site hosts a plethora of telescopes operated by a number of organisations, the AAO operates the two largest telescopes being the visually impressive Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) that dominates the mountain skyline, and the smaller UK Schmidt Telescope (UKST). Those telescopes are supported by a number of other facilities including a large and very well equipped mechanical workshop run by the Australian National University.