Powerful telescope to 'open new window in universe'
Posted
Updated
The Mount Stromlo based telescope will provide images to astronomers around the world. (ABC Tv: file photo)
Scientists at Canberra's Mount Stromlo Observatory will control and process data from a new type of astronomical telescope known as Skymapper.
Astronomers from the Australian National University are hoping Skymapper will produce the most comprehensive survey of the southern stars ever.
Skymapper lead scientist Professor Brian Schmidt says the images will be shared with astronomers around the world.
"Anyone in the world will be able to access it through the worldwide web where they can go through and dial-up any piece of the sky and ask questions about it," he said.
"So that they will be able to use it as a tool to do their astronomical research not just here at Mount Stromlo, but throughout Australia and even the rest of the world.
"It's really a telescope which is 40 times more powerful than anything existing currently anywhere in the world and so it's really opening up a new window in the universe unlike anything we've been able to do before."
