Mount Lemmon Observatory
_Mountlemmonobservatory.JPG) View of the telescopes on Mount Lemmon | |||||||||
| Alternative names | MLO | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organization | Steward Observatory | ||||||||
| Observatory code | G84  | ||||||||
| Location | Mount Lemmon, Arizona | ||||||||
| Coordinates | 32°26′31″N 110°47′21″W / 32.4420°N 110.7893°W | ||||||||
| Altitude | 2,791 meters (9,157 ft) | ||||||||
| Established | 1970 | ||||||||
| Website | Steward Observatory | ||||||||
| Telescopes | |||||||||
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  Location of Mount Lemmon Observatory | |||||||||
 Related media on Commons | |||||||||
Mount Lemmon Observatory (MLO), also known as the Mount Lemmon Infrared Observatory, is an
U.S. Forest Service by the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory, and contains a number of independently managed telescopes.[1]
History
The MLO site was first developed in 1954 as
Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.[3]
Telescopes
Below are the 8 telescopes currently operating at the observatory.
- The 1.52 m (60 in) Steward Observatory Telescope is a Torino Scale.[8]
- The 1.52 m (60 in) UMN-MLOF (University of Minnesota Mount Lemmon Observing Facility) telescope began operating in 1970. It is a Dall-Kirkham optical/near infrared and is of the same general design as the 1.5 m Steward telescope and another at San Pedro Mártir.[1] The original metal mirror performed poorly and was replaced with a Cer-Vit mirror in 1974.[9] The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) was originally a partner of UMN in operating the telescope.[10]
- The 1.02 m (40 in) CSS (Catalina Sky Survey) reflecting telescope is an unusual Pressman-Camichel design and is used to provide automated follow up observations of newly discovered near-Earth objects.[3][11] It was originally located at Catalina Station and was moved to MLO in 1975.[5] It was refurbished in 2008 and placed in a new dome in 2009 before being integrated into CSS operations.[12]
- The 1.0 m (39 in) KASI robotic telescope was installed in 2003 and is the only instrument of the Mt. Lemmon Optical Astronomy Observatory (LOAO) operated by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI).[13]
- The 0.81 m (32 in) Schulman Telescope is a Ritchey-Chrétien reflector built by RC Optical Systems and installed in September 2010.[14][15] It is operated by the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter and is Arizona's Largest dedicated public observatory.[14]The Schulman Telescope was designed from inception for remote control over the internet by amateur and professional astrophotographers worldwide, and is currently the world's largest telescope dedicated for this purpose.
- A 0.7 m (28 in) reflecting telescope installed in 1963 at Catalina Station was moved to MLO in 1972.[1]
- A 0.6 m (24 in) Ritchey-Chrétien reflector was built by RC Optical Systems and is operated by the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter.[16][17]
- The University of Louisville Manner Telescope, a 0.6 m (24 in) Ritchey-Chrétien reflector built by RC Optical Systems, remotely operated for high precision photometry including exoplanet candidate confirmation and characterization for NASA TESS.
- The 0.5 m (20 in) John Jamieson Telescope was donated to UA in 1999 and dedicated in 2005.near infraredobserving and is operated by the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Kuiper, Gerard P. (1972-12-31). "NO. 172 The Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and its Telescopes" (PDF). University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. Retrieved 2012-01-16.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Air Defense Radar Stations Information for Mount Lemmon AFS, AZ". Online Air Defense Radar Museum. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ^ a b "Mt. Lemmon Infrared Observatory". Astronomy Camp. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ^ "Steward Observatory 60" Telescope". University of Arizona Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ^ Bibcode:1976BAAS....8...11S.
- Bibcode:1978BAAS...10...16H.
- ^ "Camp Facilities and Telescopes". Astronomy Camp. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ^ "JPL". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
- Bibcode:1975BAAS....7..150N.
- ^ "Mount Lemon Observing Facility". University of California, San Diego Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences. August 17, 2006. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ^ Beshore, Ed. "The followup problem". Retrieved 2012-01-16.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Stiles, Lori (January 7, 2009). "Catalina Sky Survey Sets New Record for NEO Discoveries, Receives Funding Through 2012". The University of Arizona Office of University Communications. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - .
- ^ a b "Arizona's Largest Public-Only Telescope Now at UA's SkyCenter". The University of Arizona Office of University Communications. October 22, 2010. Archived from the original on December 2, 2010. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "RCOS: 32 inch Carbon Truss Telescope". RC Optical Systems, Inc. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ^ "Mount Lemmon SkyCenter Astronomer Takes 'Astronomy Picture of the Day'". The University of Arizona Office of University Communications. August 19, 2008. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "RCOS: 24 inch Carbon Truss Telescope". RC Optical Systems, Inc. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ^ Stiles, Lori (November 18, 2005). "Jamieson Telescope Will Light Infrared Universe for Amateur Astronomers". The University of Arizona Office of University Communications. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mount Lemmon Observatory.
- University of Arizona Steward Observatory – official site
- Mount Lemmon SkyCenter – official site
- Mt. Lemmon Observatory Clear Sky Clock Forecasts of observing conditions.
