Astronomy Australia Ltd (AAL) supports a range of projects to ensure that Australian astronomers stay internationally competitive and have access to the best astronomical research infrastructure.
Astronomy Infrastructure PortfolioAAL receives funding from the Australian Commonwealth Government to support Australian-based astronomers to access a range of world-class national and international astronomical facilities and to support various development projects to upgrade or develop future national and international astronomical infrastructure. This includes not just access to telescopes, but also virtual observatories and high performance computing (HPC) platforms.
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Industry Engagement
AAL aims to serve as a catalyst for boosting innovation impacts by fostering stronger connections across astronomy research units, government and private sectors.
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eROSITA
eROSITA (extended Roentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array) is an X-ray instrument built by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics for the Russian Spekt-RG spacecraft launched in July 2019. AAL has responsibility for an agreement with eROSITA to promote collaborative projects utilising data, models, algorithms and simulations associated with eROSITA and Australia's astronomical facilities.
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LSST / Vera C. Rubin Observatory
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory will conduct the Legacy Survey in Space and Time (LSST), a ten year survey of the sky commencing in 2023 using a specially designed 8.4 m diameter telescope in Chile. AAL represents Australian astronomers wishing to participate in the LSST project and gain early access to the survey data.
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AAT
The 3.9 m Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) is Australia's largest optical telescope, located at Siding Spring Observatory. From mid-2018 the AAT is funded by a consortium of 13 Australian universities, operated by the Australian National University, and managed by AAL on behalf of the consortium.
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ESO Forum
Australia entered into a 10 year Strategic Partnership with the European Southern Observatory (ESO) beginning in 2017. AAL hosts the Australian ESO Forum, to enhance the flow of information and ideas among experienced and prospective Australian users of ESO facilities and data.
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AAL is supported by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), which is an Australian Government program to deliver world class research facilities so that Australian researchers can solve complex problems both here in Australia and around the globe. NCRIS is an efficient and strategic way to invest in national scale research infrastructure, driving collaboration to bring economic, environmental, health and social benefits for Australia.
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