CSIRO Parkes Observatory | Australia Telescope National Facility

<!DOCTYPE HTML> <html> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <title>CSIRO Parkes Observatory | Australia Telescope National Facility</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/favicon.ico" /> <link rel="schema.AGLS" href="http://www.naa.gov.au/recordkeeping/gov_online/agls/1.2" /> <meta name="DC.Publisher" lang="en" content="corporateName=CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility;jurisdiction=Commonwealth;contact=+61 2 9372 4100 (phone),+61 2 9372 4310 (fax);address=PO Box 76 Epping NSW 1710 Australia;" /> <meta name="DC.Rights" scheme="URI" lang="en" content="http://www.csiro.au/aboutCSIRO/disclaimer.html" /> <meta name="DC.Language" scheme="RFC1766" content="en" /> <meta name="DC.Date.modified" scheme="ISO8601" content="2023-12-09" /> <link href="/stylesheets/style.css" 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onmouseout="mclosetime();" onblur="mclosetime();">Facilities</a> <div class="submenu" id="menu_facilities" onmouseover="mcancelclosetime()" onfocus="mcancelclosetime()" onmouseout="mclosetime();" onblur="mclosetime();"> <table style="width:730px;" class="menuPanel" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td class="column"> <p class="menuHeading">ATNF facilities</p> <p> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/facilities/sites/marsfield-site">Marsfield headquarters</a> <br> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/facilities/askap-radio-telescope/">Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder</a> <br> <a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/about/facilities-collections/ATNF/MRO">Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory</a> <br> <a href="https://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/">Parkes radio telescope</a> <br> <a href="https://www.narrabri.atnf.csiro.au/">Australia Telescope Compact Array</a> <br> <a href="https://www.narrabri.atnf.csiro.au/mopra/">Mopra radio telescope</a> <br> <a 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| <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/resources/visiting/geraldton/"> MSF </a> | <a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/about/facilities-collections/atnf/parkes-radio-telescope-murriyang/parkes-observatory-visitors-centre"> Parkes </a> | <a href="https://www.narrabri.atnf.csiro.au/observing/visitors/"> ATCA </a> </p> <p class="menuHeading">Information for observers</p> <p> <a href="https://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/observing/index.html">Parkes </a> | <a href="https://www.narrabri.atnf.csiro.au/observing/"> ATCA </a> | <a href="https://www.narrabri.atnf.csiro.au/mopra/obsinfo.html"> Mopra </a> | <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/resources/observing/observers/tidbinbilla/"> CDSCC </a> | <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/facilities/long-baseline-array/"> VLBI </a> <br> </p> <p class="menuHeading">Schedules & rosters</p> <p> <a href="https://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/observing/schedules/">Parkes </a> | <a href="https://www.narrabri.atnf.csiro.au/observing/schedules/schedule.html"> ATCA </a> | <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/vlbi/schedules/"> VLBI</a> <br> </p> <p class="menuHeading">User feedback</p> <p> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/about-atnf/contact-us">Leave feedback</a> <br> </p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> <td class="menuItem"> <a class="menuRowA" href="" id="mmenu_science" onmouseover="mopen( 'science' );" onfocus="mopen( 'science' );" onmouseout="mclosetime();" onblur="mclosetime();">Science & Technology</a> <div class="submenu" id="menu_science" onmouseover="mcancelclosetime()" onfocus="mcancelclosetime()" onmouseout="mclosetime();" onblur="mclosetime();"> <table style="width:470px;" class="menuPanel" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0> <tr valign="top"> <td class="column"> <p class="menuHeading">Astrophysics</p> <p> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/projects/science/">Astrophysics overview</a> <br> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/about-atnf/our-people/atnf-science-staff/">Astrophysics staff</a> <br> <a 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class="menuHeading">Spectrum management</p> <p> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/projects/spectrum/">Spectrum management overview</a> </p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> <td class="menuItem"> <a class="menuRowA" href="" id="mmenu_online" onmouseover="mopen( 'online' );" onfocus="mopen( 'online' );" onmouseout="mclosetime();" onblur="mclosetime();">Online Resources</a> <div class="submenu" id="menu_online" onmouseover="mcancelclosetime()" onfocus="mcancelclosetime()" onmouseout="mclosetime();" onblur="mclosetime();"> <table style="width:650px;" class="menuPanel" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td class="column"> <p class="menuHeading">Astronomical tools & software</p> <p> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/data-software/software/">Astronomical tools & software overview</a> <br> <a href="https://svn.atnf.csiro.au/trac/asap"> ASAP </a> | <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/computing/software/askapsoft/sdp/docs/current/pipelines/introduction.html"> ASKAPSoft </a> | <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/data-software/software/atelib/"> ATELIB </a> | <a href="https://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/cgi-bin/utilities/coord.cgi"> Coord </a> | <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/data-software/software/duchamp/"> Duchamp </a> <br> <a href="https://www.nv5geospatialsoftware.com"> IDL [external link] </a> | <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/computing/software/karma/"> Karma </a> | <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/computing/software/livedata/index.html"> livedata/gridzilla </a> | <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/computing/software/miriad"> Miriad </a> | <a href="https://www.narrabri.atnf.csiro.au/monitor/monica/index.html"> MONICA </a> <br> <a href="https://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/cgi-bin/utilities/planets.cgi"> Planets </a> | <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/research/pulsar/psrcat/"> PSRCat </a> <br> <a href="https://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/cgi-bin/utilities/rv.cgi"> Radial Velocities </a> | <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/computing/software/rpfits.html"> RPFITS </a> <br> | <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/computing/software/tcs.html"> TCS </a> <br> <a href="https://www.narrabri.atnf.csiro.au/astronomy/vri.html">Virtual Radio Interferometer</a> <br> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/computing/software/wcs"> WCSLIB </a> <br> </p> <p class="menuHeading">Documentation</p> <p> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/resources/observing/technical-memos/">ATNF Technical Memos</a> <br> </p> </td> <td class="column"> <p class="menuHeading">Information portals</p> <p> <a href="https://opal.atnf.csiro.au/">On-Line Proposal Applications and Links (OPAL)</a> <br> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/data-software/data-access/">CSIRO ATNF Data Archives</a> <br> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/resources/imagearchive/">CSIRO Radio Astronomy Image Archive</a> <br> </p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> <td class="menuItem menuLast"> <a class="menuRowA" href="" id="mmenu_outreach" onmouseover="mopen( 'outreach' );" onfocus="mopen( 'outreach' );" onmouseout="mclosetime();" onblur="mclosetime();">Outreach</a> <div class="submenu" id="menu_outreach" onmouseover="mcancelclosetime()" onmouseout="mclosetime();"> <table style="width:600px;" class="menuPanel" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td class="column"> <p class="menuHeading">Visiting our telescopes</p> <p> <a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/about/facilities-collections/ATNF/Parkes-radio-telescope-Murriyang/Parkes-Observatory-Visitors-Centre">Visiting Parkes radio telescope</a> <br> <a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/about/facilities-collections/ATNF/Australia-Telescope-Compact-Array/Compact-Array-Visitors-Centre">Visiting Australia Telescope Compact Array</a> <br> </p> <p class="menuHeading">Webcams & interactive maps</p> <p> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/outreach/visiting/parkes/parkeswebcam.html">Parkes radio telescope webcam</a> <br> <a href="https://www.narrabri.atnf.csiro.au/cgi-bin/Public/atca_live.cgi/">ATCA Live</a> <br> </p> <p class="menuHeading">Images</p> <p> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/resources/imagearchive/">CSIRO Radio Astronomy Image Archive</a> <br> </p> </td> <td class="column"> <p class="menuHeading">Education programs & resources</p> <p> <a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/education">CSIRO education</a> <br> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/outreach/education/pulseatparkes/">PULSE@Parkes</a> <br> <a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/education/programs/vwe-program">Work experience for senior students</a> <br> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/resources/education/teachers">Teacher resources</a> <br> </p> <p class="menuHeading">External links</p> <p> <a href="https://blog.csiro.au/space/">Universe@CSIRO blog</a> <br> <a href="https://parkesdishshop.com/">Parkes Observatory online store</a> <br> <a href="https://astronomy.org.au/education/observatories-planetaria/">Public observatories</a> <br> <a href="https://asa.astronomy.org.au/membership/become-an-astronomer/">Become an astronomer</a> <br> <a href="https://www.csiropedia.csiro.au/display/CSIROpedia/Home">CSIROpedia</a> <br> </p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </nav></header>  <article id="content" style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;background:white;"> <div class="box" style="background:white;"> <div class="sidebar1"> <div align="center"><h3>The dish and the great beyond!</h3><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E8uwQAros4" target="_blank"><center><img src="images/vodcast.jpg" alt="The 64-metre Parkes Radio Telescope. Image: Stewart Duff" width="90" height="63" vspace="5"></center></a><p></td></div> <ul class="nav"> <li><a href="/observing/">Information for Observers</a></li>    <li><a href="/observing/schedules/"> Schedules & Rosters</a></li> <li><a href="/observing/documentation/users_guide/pkug.html">User's Guide</a></li> </ul> <ul class="nav"> <li><a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/about/facilities-collections/atnf/parkes-radio-telescope-murriyang/parkes-observatory-visitors-centre" target="_blank">Visit Parkes Observatory</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/news_events/apollo11/" target="_blank">Apollo 11 History</a></li> </ul> <ul class="nav"> <li><a href="http://parkesdishshop.com/" target="_blank">Online Shop</a></li> </ul> <ul class="nav"> <li><a href="https://education.csiro.au/" target="_blank">Outreach & Education</a></li> </ul>  <ul class="nav"> <li></li> </ul> </div> <div class="content"> <h1>Welcome to the CSIRO Parkes Observatory</h1><p>  <p><hr> <p> <a href="images/PA8685_flip_sml.jpg"><img src="images/parkes_dish.jpg" alt="CSIRO’s Parkes Radio Telescope. Credit: David McClenaghan, CSIRO" width="197" height="129" align="left" style="margin:5mm;"></a>Parkes Observatory, just outside the central-west NSW town of Parkes, hosts <a href="https://blog.csiro.au/parkes-telescope-indigenous-name/" target="_blank">Murriyang</a>, our 64-metre Parkes radio telescope, one of the telescopes comprising CSIRO’s Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF).</p> <p> An icon of Australian science, The Parkes telescope has been in operation since 1961 and continues to be at the forefront of astronomical discovery thanks to regular upgrades. </p> <p> Astronomers from across Australia and around the world use Murriyang to undertake world-class astronomical science.</p> <p> Also known as <strong>The Dish</strong>, the telescope operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year.</p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"> <tr> <td width="17%" valign="top"><img src="images/dish_sky.jpg" alt="CSIRO’s Parkes telescope. Photo: David McClenaghan, CSIRO" width="90" height="63" vspace="5"></td> <td width="90%" valign="top"><p> <span class="sub-heading">Parkes: six decades of discovery</span> Six decades after starting work, Parkes is still one of the world's leading radio telescopes. <a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/about/facilities-collections/ATNF/Parkes-radio-telescope-Murriyang">Read about its history of achievements</a>.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><img src="images/dishes.jpg" alt="Antennas of CSIRO’s ASKAP telescope. Photo: Ant Schinckel, CSIRO" width="90" height="63" vspace="5"></td> <td valign="top"><p><span class="sub-heading">Find out more <br> </span>CSIRO is Australia's national science agency, and operates the ATNF for the Australian and international scientific communities. <a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/about/facilities-collections/ATNF">Find out more about CSIRO’s research into Understanding the Universe</a>.</p></td> </tr> </table> <p> </p> </div> </div> </article>  <footer> <div class="wrap"> <a href="https://www.atnf.csiro.au/about-us/contact-us">Contact us</a>  |  <a href="https://internal.atnf.csiro.au">ATNF Internal</a>  |  <a href="htts://www.csiro.au/en/About">About CSIRO</a>  |  <a href="http://www.csiro.au/en/about/Policies/Legal/Copyright">Copyright</a>  |  <a href="http://www.csiro.au/en/about/Policies/Legal/Legal-notice">Legal Notice and Disclaimer</a>  |  <a href=http://www.csiro.au/en/About/Access-to-information/Privacy>Privacy</a> </div> </footer>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-37970113-3"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-37970113-3'); </script> </div>  </body> </html>

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CSIRO Parkes Observatory | Australia Telescope National Facility