Fast Link to SSO: Australia's Major Optical Astronomical Observatory

A microwave link is proposed to Australia's major optical astronomical observatory at Siding Spring Mountain in northwest NSW to improve bandwidth by a factor 15. This will enable remote/robotic observing, and provide a new capacity for large-scale astronomical investigations of galaxies and the structure of the Universe with the Wide Field Imager (ANU,AAO), near-infrared imager (ANU), and Automated Patrol Telescope (UNSW). The link will enhance communications to home institutions and reduce observing costs. It has the potential for remote observing from state universities future bandwidth enhancement (factor 250), and a fast path to CSIRO's Australia Telescope.