Form for Visitors and Remote Observers

COVID-19 Update 

From November 15th 2021, visiting astronomers are permitted to travel to SSO to observe if they

  • have no COVID-19 symptoms,
  • follow NSW Government rules,
  • are not a close contact,
  • where a mask as required,
  • practice good hand hygiene by frequently washing or sanitising hands, and
  • follow other restrictions that may be required

Additional controls may be imposed as circumstances change.

Remote observing from home

With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, accessing a remote observivng station is much more feasible and strongly encouraged. If you are an experienced observer with the instrument on the AAT that you will be using, have sufficient internet bandwidth (and computer screens), remote observing from home will be allowed. Please submit a request through via the Visitor Form and select "Remote observing from home."

Remote observing from home is restricted to astronomers based in Australia. Requests to observe remotely from places outside Australia need SSO Director approval.

 

Astronomers and students using the AAT (either remotely or from site), the 2.3m (site only), or the UKST (site only) are required to inform SSO of their observing plans at least one week before the first night of their observing run using the Visitor Form (Data Central account required). Please submit one form for each observer. Last minute notifications may not be actioned, which could lead to lost observing time. 

Please fill out this form if you plan on observing with the

  • AAT remotely from one of the remote observing sites (applies to AAT only), or
  • AAT from SSO,
  • 2.3m from SSO, and/or
  • UKST from SSO

For all other visitors (e.g. engineers and technicians working on the telescopes), please inform us of the details of your visit using the Visitor Form (Data Central account required). 

Team leaders of commissioning runs must ensure that all team members have filled out the form.

The new lodge is now available. Please use the ANU's accommodation booking system to book accommodation and the Visitor Form (via your Data Central account) to let us know your travel plans.

In the event of a Catastrophic Fire Danger, the site will be closed and all will be evacuated. In such circumstance, and in other cases where there is a bushfire within 25km of site, you will be asked to evacuate the site and head to the evacuation site in Coonabarabran. The evacuation point in Coonabarabran is the Coonabarabran Bowling Club located at 79 Edwards Street (near the Shell service station).   Please advise site staff that you have evacuated the site. Accommodation will be arranged for you by the SSO Site Manager if you cannot return to Site.

Just returned from an observing run? Australian-based students may claim Travel and Accommodation support if observing on the AAT from site.

European-based observers who qualify for support from OPTICON should submit their claims directly to the Access Office.

For further information on travelling to the Siding Spring Observatory, please read the following pages: