Post #1613612

Australian scientists and engineers, along with colleagues in Italy, Germany and France, are currently developing and building a cutting edge instrument for one of ESO's telescopes, MAVIS: https://astronomyaustralia.org.au/blog/news/mavis-a-bold-leap-in-australian-led-astronomy-and-adaptive-optics/ When this instrument is installed on the telescope in the early 2030s it will allow the ESO user community to obtain visible light imaging and spectroscopy with unprecedented resolution and sensitivity. With the decision to not join ESO that user community will not include Australian astronomers. Because of the way that ESO procures scientific instruments Australia will still receive a certain amount of telescope time to use MAVIS in exchange for the Australian share of the labour costs associated with its design and construction. That will amount to about 200 nights, which is certainly not nothing, but once those are gone Australia will lose all access to this Australian led instrument. #Astronomy #Astrodon