After significant delays throughout the second half of 2022, the concrete slab for the new GOTO-South site at Siding Spring Observatory near Coonabarabran, NSW was finally complete in mid-November. Our AstroHaven domes had been there (in bits) for some time, so Paul Chote made the long trek from the UK to join me there in the first week of December, and lead their assembly.

We were a bit shorthanded as other Warwick personnel were unable to travel due to visa delays, but we were well supported by the RSAA on-site staff who also provided the necessary lifting gear and tools. After a fairly gruelling 6 days of hard work the domes were complete and fully functional!

The next step will be to run power and internet, and then (hopefully in late Feb or early March 2023) to install the telescopes themselves. All on track for operations to coincide with the next LVK observing run!

Labels: 2022, hardware