CSIRO’s Australia Telescope Compact Array

For something completely different, what about a visit to CSIRO’s Paul Wild Observatory? It’s also one of the most fascinating places in the country.

For instance, did you know that Australia is a world leader in radio astronomy and the Telescope at the observatory, CSIRO's Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) is just part of the reason? ACTA was designed and built here in Australia and is part of the Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF), which is owned and operated by CSIRO, Australia's national science agency. The ATNF includes Murriyang, the Parkes radio telescope along with other telescopes, technologies and data archives.

One of the best telescopes in the southern hemisphere, ATCA is just 25km west of Narrabri! It consists of six huge antennas, weighing a massive 270 tonnes each, five of which can be moved along a 3km railway track. The sixth antenna is situated a further 3km west of the main track. Using this configuration the combined power of the antennas can simulate a single dish 6 km in diameter.

ATCA is the world's faster gigahertz-band telescope for responding to explosions in the galaxy and beyond, like supernovae and gamma ray bursts. It's been sued for gravitational wave research, such as following up on cataclysmic events like the collision of black holes, which produces detectable gravitational waves on Earth.

Open seven days a week, admission to the observatory is absolutely free. From interactive “hands on” displays like the “Whispering Dishes”, where the merest whisper can be transmitted a hundred metres by focusing with two small telescope dishes, a stopover at the Paul Wild Observatory is fascinating for all ages.

A theatrette has frequent screenings outlining the operation of ATCA and showing how astronomers use this impressive facility to reveal the secrets hidden at the far reaches of the Universe.

There are dozens of amazing photo opportunities. You can study working models of ATCA and other telescopes from the site's history and read more about the research taking place.

Coach and school tours are very welcome, but advance bookings are essential.

Help to protect the science: The radio noise created by our modern gadgets like phones, smart watches and Bluetooth devices can overwhelm the weak signals from space that ATCA is trying to detect.

Please protect the science and research by switching your phone to airplane or flight mode and turning off other WiFi and Bluetooth-enabled devices before you arrive. Photography and digital video are welcomed when you visit, however please ensure that your device is in airplane or flight mode.

Astro Photography: Each year, there are workshops for astrophotography with the ATCA's being the main feature, check out ATCA's website for more details.