AAO image reference AAT 1. « Previous || Next »
Image and text © 1980 Anglo-Australian Observatory, photograph by David Malin.
Seen here pointing low in the east, the Anglo-Australian Telescope is capable of looking anywhere in the sky more than 20 degrees above the horizon. It does so by swivelling on two axes. The motion which follows stars from east to west across the sky is defined by the yellow horseshoe bearing. This rotates resting on pads supported by pressurised oil. The second motion is around an axis between the arms of the horseshoe that permits the white structure holding the large mirror to tip north and south. At the end of the telescope is the prime focus 'cage' where light from the primary mirror is brought to a focus. It is here that all the AAT colour photographs were made. Click here for bigger image of the AAT.
The plates taken with this telescope were mostly intended for scientific purposes, but many of them have been used to make the 3-colour images seen elsewhere on these pages. Some care has been taken to ensure that the colour in the images derived from these plates is realistic.
Related images
AAT 2. The dome of the Anglo-Australian Telescope
MISC 1. Siding Spring mountain and the Anglo-Australian Telescope
MISC 2. The dome of the UK Schmidt Telescope.
MISC 3. An observer adjusts the UK Schmidt Telescope
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