Non-Defence Trials

Astronomical Observations

The remote desert location, extremely dark sky, excellent atmospheric clarity, quiet electromagnetic environment and available support infrastructure renders the WTF as a favourable location for conducting sensitive astronomical observations. The foremost astronomical facility in the WTF is the Cangaroo Gamma-Ray Telescope operated by the Universities of Adelaide and Tokyo. Cangaroo operations commenced in 2000 with a single telescope comprising a 10 metre diameter dish made up of individual parabolic mirror segments and an array of photomultipliers at the focus. The telescope detects faint Cerenkov light produced by extremely energetic gamma-rays striking the upper atmosphere, resulting in an ‘extensive air shower’ of charged particles and photons. The telescope records gamma-rays emitted by violent objects in the universe such as pulsars, black holes, supernova remnants and active galaxies.

Following the success of the initial telescope, three additional telescopes were commissioned at the Cangaroo site in 2004. The four telescopes are linked to provide a large increase in gamma-ray detection sensitivity. Additional details concerning the Cangaroo telescope array can be found at the University of Adelaide and University of Tokyo websites.