Instrument science at the Anglo-Australian Observatory

Joss Bland-Hawthorn

doi:10.1117/12.550295

Translator Disclaimer

30 September 2004 Instrument science at the Anglo-Australian Observatory

Joss Bland-Hawthorn

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5492, Ground-based Instrumentation for Astronomy; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.550295
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2004, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Abstract

The Anglo-Australian Observatory (AAO) has two groups which work closely to develop the next generation of astronomical instruments: the Instrumentation group, headed by Sam Barden, and the Instrument Science group. The Instrument Science group plays a key role in identifying and prototyping new technologies and concepts, and in establishing links with universities and industrial partners. Recent developments include the following: "echidna" fibre positioning technology, "starbug" robotic positioners; designer optical fibres and photonics; inertial drives and new concepts for large telescopes; new designs for gratings, tunable filters and interference coatings; a programmable "honeycomb" integral field spectrograph; a compact spectrograph for a Mars rover; and a new scheme for an optical laser receiver.

Citation Download Citation

Joss Bland-Hawthorn "Instrument science at the Anglo-Australian Observatory", Proc. SPIE 5492, Ground-based Instrumentation for Astronomy, (30 September 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.550295

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE