Bisdee Tier Optical Observatory

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The telescope has a diameter of 1.27 m (50 in). The primary mirror is made from fused silica 8 in (200 mm) thick. The mount for the telescope is equatorial. Design consists of a folded Cassegrain reflector with f/9 and 40 arcminutes of corrected field of view, image scale on focal plane is 55 micrometres/arcsec. Telescope beside standard Cassegrain focus has also two Nasmyth focal stations for additional instrumentation, switched with a remote control.

The telescope was constructed at Mr Harlingten's workshops in Norfolk, Vancouver and Tucson, Arizona. Worth 2 million Australian dollars was donated to the University of Tasmania by an anonymous businessman.

The telescope will be eventually automatized with remote control via microwave link from the University campus allowing control from all over the world by internet.