About CAASTRO

The unsolved questions in astronomy demand entirely new approaches, requiring enormous data sets covering the entire sky. In the last few years, Australia has invested more than $400 million both in innovative wide-field telescopes and in the powerful computers needed to process the resulting torrents of data. Using these new tools, Australia now has the chance to establish itself at the vanguard of the upcoming information revolution centred on all-sky astrophysics.

CAASTRO is receiving more than $29M in funding over the period 2011-2018. CAASTRO is led by The University of Sydney, in conjunction with the Australian National University, the University of Melbourne, the University of Western Australia, Curtin University and Swinburne University, complemented by a group of world-class Australian and international partners.

Photo:  Mr Jay Banyer (CAASTRO Software Engineer), Ms Sarah Reeves (CAASTRO PhD Student), Ms Susan Parker (CAASTRO Events & Communications Officer).

Our Story

Since the beginning of human history we have gazed up at the night sky in wonder, but with limited technology and limited data, we have been left questioning how the cosmos works.

At CAASTRO we seek to answer these questions, through new ways of managing mega-data we create useable information and through this information we build knowledge.

CAASTRO is a community of scientists and institutions dedicated to exploring the universe and to understanding its wonder.

We share a passion for science and a deep commitment to the development of knowledge and its practical application.

We have the skills, technology and imagination to finally answer some of our greatest questions.

Beliefs

We believe science is a passionate undertaking and this passion should be contagious.

We believe rigorous science and thinking are the basis for ground-breaking advances in understanding.

We believe by having an inclusive mind and heart, we create better teams and better opportunities.

We believe research should be high-impact and have a positive effect on society and individuals.

A Universal Perspective

A universal perspective of the cosmos, exploring the sky in its entirety not just section by section.

A universal perspective of science, engaging teams, scientists and the public in an inclusive and egalitarian way.

A universal perspective of insight and discovery, understanding how knowledge can be used practically in the wider world.