The introduction of remotely operated CCD cameras in the late 1990's was not quite the end of astronomers sitting in the Anglo-Australian Telescope's prime focus cage, though.

SAMI was an experimental instrument that operated between 2011 and 2018, and it used the old photographic top end to feed light into a novel type of optical fibre bundle (hexabundles). To position these fibre bundles to collect the light from specific galaxies SAMI used what was, even then, a pretty old school method: plug plates. Pre-drilled metal plates, one for each set of targets, would be inserted into a holder at the focal plane of the telescope and the fibre bundles (and individual fibres, for sky background measurement) would be plugged into the holes in the plates.

This was done with the telescope parked at the access position and was only needed when changing from one set of targets to another (i.e. a few times per night) so didn't require astronomers to ride on top of the telescope in the dark while it was observing. I gather that some of SAMI team did do so though, once or twice, just for the experience.

Here's a video of the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywPl0tfnp2Y

#Astronomy #Astrodon #AngloAustralianTelescope #AAT #SidingSpringObservatory #SAMI

Returning to the subject of the Anglo-Australian Telescope and prime focus observers (i.e. astronomers trapped in a tube on top of the telescope), the evolution of the AAT's prime focus camera can be tracked via the images in the AAO Image Collection, and more specifically the David Malin Archive: https://images.datacentral.org.au/

The photos show the same telescope top end, with David Malin for scale, in 1976 (photographic plates), 1991 (still photographic plates), 1997 (early CCD camera) and 2000 (fully remotely operated CCD camera).

Visible in the first three photos is the prime focus observer's seat, which could be rotated around the inside of the cyclinder as the telescope tracked across the sky and the direction of "down" changed.

Credit for all photos to David Malin, more details and terms of use can be found via the above link.

#Astronomy #Astrodon #AngloAustralianTelescope #AAT #SidingSpringObservatory #DavidMalin

One final comment while I'm AAT-posting, this is the same telescope that I posted about last week because of the upcoming workshop to discuss its future.

I've been working on an idea for a new camera for it.

https://aus.social/@spacelizard/116797098057265480

#Astronomy #Astrodon #Telescope #AngloAustralianTelescope #AAT #SidingSpringObservatory

Incidentally, if you'd like to see the Anglo-Australian Telescope yourself in person your best bet (short of becoming a professional astronomer and applying for telescope time on it) is to go along to StarFest over the October long weekend. Part of that is the annual Siding Spring Observatory Open Day, during which you can visit areas of the Anglo-Australian Telescope and many of the other telescopes on site that would normally be closed to the public.

There'll also be a public lecture, science in the pub and a guided stargazing event in the Warrumbungles National Park.

https://starfest.com.au/

#Astronomy #Astrodon #Telescope #AngloAustralianTelescope #AAT #SidingSpringObservatory

In the meantime here's a timelapse from a mere 7 years ago of a "top end change" taking place on the same telescope. I gather it's rather less frequent now, but they used to go through this process roughly once every two weeks.

https://youtu.be/EA_2CXATBSw

#Astronomy #Astrodon #Telescope #AngloAustralianTelescope #AAT #SidingSpringObservatory

Le règlèment complet est accessible ici : https://litteratureunderground.com/#AAT-verite

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