Australian National University Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics
The Australian National University's Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics is one of the Schools in the Institute of Advanced Studies--the part of the ANU devoted to research and research training. Not only are we the largest group of astronomy researchers in Australia; by almost any measure, we are also the best. We are Australia's premier university centre for astronomical research. Our mission is to:
- advance the observational and theoretical frontiers of astronomy and its enabling technologies;
- provide national and international leadership;
- train outstanding scientists.
Our headquarters are located on Mount Stromlo, a twenty minute drive from the centre of Canberra, Australia's capital city. We run Australia's two largest optical observatories: Mount Stromlo Observatory itself (damaged by the Canberra bushfires of 18 January 2003) and Siding Spring Observatory, which is located near the town of Coonabarabran, in the Western Plains of NSW. RSAA hosts the only astronomer named in the 2004 ISI (Institute for Scientific Information) list of the most cited scientists for Australia. In 2008, ANU/RSAA was placed in the world top ten for space science. RSAA is also building Australia’s first two instruments for the Gemini 8m telescopes (NIFS and GSAOI), has been involved in instrumentation for ESO’s Very Large Telescopes, and runs the 2.3 m and 1 m telescopes at Siding Spring Observatory, with SKYMAPPER - a new 1.3 m telescope - to see first light in 2006.
We study many aspects of our universe, including:
- searches for planets around other stars;
- mapping the expansion of space and time;
- modeling and observing the formation of galaxies;
- designing cutting-edge astronomical instrumentation to go on some of the world’s largest telescopes;
- studying the violent flows of gas around black holes;
- finding the oldest stars in the galaxy.
