Bug-eyed space telescope revealed by local researchers

Just like the universe, the innovation capabilities of Macquarie Park are ever expanding… ..even into space!

Researchers at Macquarie University (Balaclava Road) have been collaborating with innovation district locals Canon (Talavera Road) to create the Huntsman Telescope - the first space imaging technology of its kind in the southern hemisphere, named after one of Australia’s friendly, furry, many-eyed arachnids.

Designed to make deep space discoveries, the automated telescope will open itself each night at the Sliding Springs Observatory, and start collecting data which can be processed by researchers in Macquarie Park - and around the world.

The Canon lenses are an off-the-shelf product, optimised by the smarts of our innovation district community.

Project team member Sarah Caddy said the Huntsman allowed the team to collect as much light as possible even from objects which are very faint in the sky:

"With traditional mirror-based telescopes, they can scatter the light into parts of the field of view that we don't want … it makes it really difficult to find those really faint things around galaxies.”

"What we do instead is we have 10 lenses, all looking at the same spot in the sky. We stack those images together to get as much light as possible."

Connect MPID General Manager, Mark Ames, is delighted to see the continuing development of Macquarie Park’s space industry.

“With satellite start ups, defense and radar companies, plus the research capabilities of Macquarie University and the Australian Astronomical Optics based here, Macquarie Park is home to a significant space industry.

The Huntsman Telescope team are part of our area’s exceptionally talent teams who are looking skyward and pondering what’s out there.”

Sky watchers and citizen scientists can track the Huntsman’s progress via its dedicated Facebook, Instagram and GitHub pages.

News about the Huntsman Telescope comes as Macquarie Park gets set to play host to Macquarie University Astronomy Night on September 17th, when hundreds of members of the public will enjoy hands-on telescope viewings, planetariums shows, lasers and food trucks.