Code 301 Established 1978 (1978) Opened 1978 Province Québec | unnamed telescope 1.6 m reflector Altitude 1,111 m | |
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Organization UdeM, ULaval, and McGill Website Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic Similar Mont Mégantic, ASTROLab, Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope, Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, Great Smoky Mountains | ||
The Mont Mégantic Observatory (French: Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic; OMM) is an astronomical observatory owned and operated jointly by the Université de Montréal (UdeM), the Université Laval (ULaval), and McGill University. Founded in 1978, the observatory houses the second largest telescope in Eastern Canada after David Dunlap Observatory near Toronto. It is situated at the summit of Mont Mégantic, the highest point of Eastern Canada accessible by car. OMM is about 60 kilometres (37 mi) east of Sherbrooke and 190 kilometres (120 mi) east of Montréal.
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The asteroid 4843 Mégantic is named for the observatory.
Telescope
The 1.6 metres (63 in) Ritchey-Chrétien telescope is equipped with a complement of modern instruments. Imaging, spectroscopy, and polarimetry are routinely conducted at both visible and infrared wavelengths.
Light pollution
Efforts to control local light pollution, about one-quarter of which is due to the nearby city of Sherbrooke, have led to the establishment of the world's first International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) Dark Sky preserve around the observatory, covering some 5500 square km (2123 square miles).
ASTROLab
ASTROLab is an astronomy activity centre operate by the Parc national du Mont-Mégantic. There are interactive displays about the history of the Universe, the Earth and life. Visitor can take guided daytime tours of ASTROLab and the Mount Megantic Observatory. There are also astronomy evenings, an astronomy festival, and the Perseid Festival.
