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The Anglo-Australian Telescope

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Australia's largest optical telescope, the 3.9m Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) at Siding Spring Observatory, is operated using funding from a consortium of thirteen Australian universities (“the AAT Consortium”), and these operations are governed by the AAT Council. The telescope Operator for the Consortium is the Australian National University (ANU), with AAL playing the role of Manager of those operations on behalf of the AAT Consortium.

AAT governance information is presented on this page. A snapshot of the facility can be seen on our AAT flyer. For other AAT information, such as observing and operational matters, please see the ANU's AAT webpage.  Please note that non-Australian proposals can now only access Paid Time on the AAT. For enquiries regarding the terms and conditions for AAT Paid Time, please directly contact the AAL office.​

AAT ​Council​

The AAT Council has governance oversight of AAT's operation. All of the Consortium's thirteen universities and AAL have representation on the AAT Council:
  • Michael Brown (Monash)
  • Julia Bryant (USyd)
  • Brad Carter (USQ)
  • Andrew Cole (UTas)
  • Matthew Colless (ANU)
  • Tamara Davis (UQ)
  • Simon Driver (UWA)
  • Miroslav Filipovic (WSU)
  • Karl Glazebrook (Swinburne)
  • Christian Reichardt (UoM)
  • Steven Tingay (Curtin)
  • Chris Tinney (UNSW, Chair)
  • Mark Wardle (MQ)
  • Rachel Webster (AAL)

​Council Documents
  • Council Resolutions 

The AAT Council, supported AAL, held a one-day Workshop on the Future of the AAT, at UNSW in Sydney on October 31st, 2019.
  ​
ATAC
The AAT Time Allocation Committee (ATAC) is the committee formed to allocate time on the AAT.

The current membership is:
  • Sarah Martell (UNSW, Chair)
    Jul 2019 - Jun 2022
  • Devika Kamath (MQ)
    Sep 2018 - Jun 2021
  • Luca Casagrande (ANU)
    Jan 2019 - Dec 2021
  • Daniel Bayliss (International)
    Jan 2021 - Dec 2023
  • Katie Auchettl (Melbourne U)
    Jul 2020 - Jun 2023
  • Jesse van de Sande (USyd)
              Jul 2020 - Jun 2023
  • Edward Taylor (Swinburne)
    ​Jan 2021 - Dec 2023
  • Elisabete da Cunha (ANU/UWA)
    Mar 2019 - Dec 2022  on maternity leave

​​There are seven members on ATAC, with at least one international member. In addition, a substitute member will also be appointed, to take the place of an ATAC member who is unavailable for a meeting of the committee.

Appointment to ATAC will usually be for a 3-year term, although the appointments may be for staggered terms to ensure a steady turnover in membership.

Nominations to the committee will be periodically solicited by the AAL via an open call to the community.  AAL will review the nominations to ensure suitable representation on ATAC, encompassing a broad spread of specialisations and seniorities. AAL will make a recommendation to the AAT Council, who will appoint the members as well as the Chair and Deputy Chair.

​
​AAT Policies ​
  • ATAC Policies and Procedures
  • AAT Lost Time Compensation Policy
  • ​Other ​policies ​​​
AATUC
The AAT Users' Committee (AATUC, formerly the AAOUC) provides advice to the AAT Council and SSO Director on the operational and development issues relating to the AAT. 

​The current membership is:
  • Fuyan Bian (International) Jun 2021
  • Michelle Cluver (Swinburne) Jun 2022
  • Kyler Kuehn (International) Jun 2023
  • Nicholas Scott (USyd) Jun 2021
  • Jeffrey Simpson (UNSW) Jun 2021
  • Brent Groves (ANU/UWA Chair) Jun 2022
  • Lara Cullinane (ANU) Jun 2021

E-mail: aatuc -at- astronomyaustralia.org.au

​The committee comprises six external users, normally four Australian and two international representatives. AATUC members are appointed by the AAT Council.

​Terms of Reference
  • To provide advice to the AAT Council and SSO Director on operational and development issues relating to the AAT and all aspects of support provided by the ANU.
  • To make recommendations to the AAT Council seeking to maximise the scientific productivity and to maintain the international competitiveness of the AAT, taking into account the likely resource availability.
  • To consult widely with the community, liaising where necessary with ATAC, to establish priorities for both operational and instrumentation initiatives.
  • To interface with instrument design review panels, commenting on any issues arising from these reviews that impact on the delivery of key user science requirements.
  • To provide a bi-annual written report for submission to the AAT Council.
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