Warkworth Radio Astronomical Observatory

Warkworth Radio Observatory
LocationWarkworth, Auckland Region, New Zealand
Coordinates36°25′58″S 174°40′06″E / 36.4328°S 174.6682°E / -36.4328; 174.6682
Websitewww.irasr.aut.ac.nz
Telescopes
Location of Warkworth Radio Astronomical Observatory
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The Warkworth Radio Astronomical Observatory is a radio telescope observatory, located just south of Warkworth, New Zealand, about 50 km north of the Auckland CBD. It was established by the Institute for Radio Astronomy and Space Research, Auckland University of Technology. The WARK12M 12m Radio Telescope was constructed in 2008. In 2010, a licence to operate the Telecom New Zealand 30m dish was granted, which led to the commissioning of the WARK30M 30m Radio Telescope. The first observations made in conjunction with the Australian Long Baseline Array took place in 2011.

The observatory was purchased by Space Operations New Zealand Limited (SpaceOps NZ) in July 2023 after the university decided to close the facility. Because of its wider ambit, the facility is now called the Warkworth Space Centre.