MSATT* offers anyone from Year 8 to post-retirement the chance to experience astronomy first hand. 

MSATT runs year-round courses in astronomy, including practical experience using small telescopes. The main telescopes and instruments are generally reserved for specific projects but are also used during some group sessions. The courses are largely non-mathematical as we delve more deeply into the concepts behind astronomy. MSATT Astronomy is run every Monday from 6pm at Mount Stromlo Observatory.

Those who want to undertake a formal project collect observations of astronomical phenomena over a six month period. Guidance can be provided for analysing observations, and writing skills needed to produce a fully referenced and refereed report.

For further information, see the MSATT Student Manual available in the Documents section of this site, or contact Geoff McNamara (geoff.mcnamara@anu.edu.au) for a tour of the facility and an application form.

All MSATT activities and tuition are free of charge.

ORIGINS

MSATT was built at Mount Stromlo Observatory between 2016 and 2020 and was made possible by the generous donation by Denis and Vee Saunders, along with the support of dozens of parents, students and academics.

The original purpose of the facility was to provide Canberra's high school students an opportunity to use high-calibre instruments for advanced projects. From 2025, MSATT was opened for students of any age, either for casual observing during the group sessions, or for more targeted projects using the main telescopes.

The two domes house suites of instruments comprising a 300 mm Schmidt-Cassegrain teaching telescope, an H-alpha solar telescope, a 100 mm apochromatic refractor, 40 cm Newtonian, 115 mm apochromat, as well as a range of astronomical cameras, spectrographs, and auxiliary equipment.

NOTES

*McNamara-Saunders Astronomical Teaching Telescopes, pronounced "emsat".

Parent/carer attendance at all sessions is required for students under 18.

MSATT is supported by the ANU.