Last Light at Siding Spring is a community campaign to secure a managed future for the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) — Australia’s largest optical telescope and the scientific heart of Coonabarabran.
This is the story of how the campaign began and why it matters.
The Anglo-Australian Telescope was opened in 1974. For decades it stood at the forefront of Australian astronomy, training generations of scientists and delivering major discoveries.
It sits at the centre of Australia’s first International Dark Sky Park. In 2026 Warrumbungle National Park was ranked the second-best stargazing destination in the world. The observatory draws around 25,000 visitors a year and contributes more than $6 million annually to the local economy.
The AAT is more than an instrument. It is part of the identity of Coonabarabran and the Warrumbungle region.
Under the Australian Astronomy Decadal Plan 2026–2035, funding for the Anglo-Australian Telescope is secured only until mid-2027. After that date there is currently no long-term commitment.
We accept that the telescope has reached the natural end of its role as Australia’s primary national optical research facility. What we refuse is an unmanaged wind-down that abandons the heritage, the instrument, and the regional economy that depends on it.
In August 2026 a small group of locals began quietly talking with visitors, former guests, and community members about the future of the AAT. The response was immediate and strongly supportive.
A Change.org petition was launched. Local stargazing operators came on board. A volunteer working group formed. Large banners were prepared for Timor Road and Tibuc Road in clear sight of the telescope. Political offices began responding.
The campaign is constructive. We are not asking for business-as-usual science funding. We are asking for recognition that the cultural and physical heritage of the AAT is too significant to abandon, and for a practical pathway that keeps the site working for Australia and for this region.
The story is still being written. Every signature, every share, and every respectful conversation strengthens the case for a managed future at Siding Spring.
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