Siding Spring Observatory is an observatory that is found in Coonabarabran , Australia . It is a member of the Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics at the Australian National University . Siding Spring Observatory near Coonabarabran , New South Wales , Australia , part of the Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics ( RSAA ) at the Australian National University ( ANU ) , incorporates the Anglo-Australian Telescope along with a collection of other telescopes owned by the Australian National University , the University of New South Wales , and other institutions .