University of Tasmania, Australia

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Optical Astronomy

UTAS Home › Faculty of Science Engineering and Technology › School of Mathematics & Physics › Research › Physics  › Optical Astronomy

Description

The main research interests of the optical astronomy group are in the following areas:

  • Exoplanet search and characterisation
  • Gravitational microlensing
  • the Magellanic Clouds
  • Local Group dwarf galaxies
  • Cataclysmic variables

The School of Mathematics and Physics operates an optical astronomy observatory at Bisdee Tier in the Southern Midlands council area of Tasmania. The Greenhill Observatory was officially opened in 2013 and hosts the H127 telescope, a 1.3-metre equatorially mounted Ritchey-Chrétien designed and manufactured in Canada; the optics were completed in the USA. The H127 was donated to the University by Canadian technology investor Caisey Harlingten, the president of the SearchLight Observatory Network. The H127 is the largest optical telescope in Australia outside of the Siding Spring Observatory, making it a unique research and teaching tool for UTAS astronomers and students.

The H127 is in its commissioning phase as of early 2013. The main instrument packages will be a wide-field optical imager and a dual beam spectrograph, with other instruments under development. Access to the telescope is via scientific collaboration with UTAS staff or by arrangement with the Director. It is anticipated that roughly 85 percent of the nights from April-September will be dedicated to the search for exoplanets.

The H127 replaces the previous UTAS optical telescope, the Waterworth 1-m located at Canopus Hill approximately 12 km from Hobart. The 1 metre telescope was opened in 1975 and was originally intended to be used as a dedicated spectroscopic instrument for stellar astrophysics. It was computerised in the early 1980s and was used to make key measurements of the atmosphere of Pluto. Later, the 1-m was put into use as an imaging telescope to search for exoplanets using the method of microlensing anomaly follow-up, and played an important role in the discovery of over a dozen planets from 2003-2012. The 1-m is expected to be decommissioned at the end of 2013.

Contact: Andrew.Cole@utas.edu.au