1. Brad Carter University of Southern Queensland
Mt Kent Observatory
Brad Carter
University of Southern Queensland
USQ

2. INTRODUCTION
Mt Kent Observatory’s role is to enable astronomy distance education through research.
Located at latitude 280S 1530 E near Toowoomba, Australia
URL:
(Wikipedia)
Photo shows domes for (left to right):
CDK700 telescope (installation 2011)
O’Mara robotic telescope
CDK20s telescope
USQ

3. ASTRONOMY AT USQ CDK20s dome at sunset Astronomy & space science:
Integral part of Australian, international school curricula
Australian “super science”
Physics & astronomy is taught by distance education, using:
Moodle delivery of lectures, tutorials, discussion forums & assessments
Robotic imaging for practical report
Home practical kits (physics only)
Electronic submission of assessments
Traditional exam at a choice of venues
Research is focused on improved understanding of Solar & Earth history using stars and exoplanets as proxies.
USQ
CDK20s dome at sunset

4. The O’Mara Robotic Telescope
USQ / APTA collaboration:
Paramount ME, Meade 30cm, STL1301
Web interface for imaging requests
Queue-scheduled observations
Results by & download
In use by USQ students for imaging:
Star cluster types
Galaxy shapes
Asteroid detections
Possible future photometry projects:
Variable stars
Asteroid rotation
Exoplanet transits (demanding)
Adapt exercises from elsewhere?
USQ
O’Mara telescope “dome cam” image

5. Shared Skies Partnership
Shared Skies Partnership operates between the UoL & USQ (
CDK20s:
50cm f/6.8 optics with CCD, plus auxiliary finder, wide-field color camera
Replicates facility at Moore Observatory
Enables live remote imaging
Web interface being developed
CDK700 (installation 2011)
0.7m alt-azimuth telescope
For remote, robotic photometry
Spectroscopy also planned
USQ
(Planewave)