Siding Spring Survey

{{About|the near-Earth object search program||Siding Spring (disambiguation){{!}}Siding Spring}}

{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

{{Infobox observatory

|name = Siding Spring Survey

|background =

|image =

|caption =

|organization = University of Arizona, Australian National University

|location = Siding Spring Observatory, New South Wales, Australia

|coords = {{coord|31.3|S|149.1|E|type:landmark_region:AU|display=inline,title}}

|altitude = 1,150 m

|weather =

|established = 2004

|closed = 2013

|website = {{Official|msowww.anu.edu.au/~rmn}}

|telescope1_name = Uppsala Southern Schmidt Telescope

|telescope1_type = Schmidt telescope

}}

The Siding Spring Survey (SSS) was a near-Earth object search program that used the 0.5-metre Uppsala Southern Schmidt Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory, New South Wales, Australia. It was the southern hemisphere counterpart of the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) located in the Santa Catalina Mountains on Mount Bigelow, near Tucson, Arizona, USA. The survey was the only professional search for dangerous asteroids being made in the Southern Hemisphere.

SSS was jointly operated by the University of Arizona and the Australian National University, with funding from NASA. SSS (IAU observatory code E12) was located at Siding Spring Observatory (IAU observatory code 413) at {{coord|31.3|S|149.1|E|type:landmark_region:AU}}, approximately {{convert|400|km|abbr=on}} north-west of Sydney at an altitude of about {{convert|1150|m}}.

Images of 30 seconds' exposure time were collected using a 4×4K charge-coupled device at intervals and then compared with software.

The survey ended in July 2013 after funding was discontinued.{{cite news|last1=Safi|first1=Michael|title=Earth at risk after cuts close comet-spotting program, scientists warn|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/oct/20/funding-cuts-leave-earth-with-blind-spot-for-potentially-catastrophic-comets|access-date=25 November 2015|work=The Guardian|date=20 October 2014}}{{cite web |last1=Winder|first1=Jenny |title=Comet Hunters Warn of Threat to Siding Spring Observatory |url=http://sen.com/news/comet-hunters-warn-of-threat-to-siding-spring-observatory |publisher=SEN TV Limited |access-date=27 November 2015 |date=5 November 2014}}