Harman Patil (Editor)

Rothney Astrophysical Observatory

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Location
  
near Priddis, Alberta

A.R. Cross Telescope
  
1.8 m reflector

Province
  
Alberta

Organization
  
University of Calgary

Established
  
1972 (1972)

Baker-Nunn Telescope
  
0.5 m reflector

Phone
  
+1 403-931-2366

Rothney Astrophysical Observatory

Altitude
  
1,269 metres (4,163 ft)

Website
  
Rothney Astrophysical Observatory

Address
  
Priddis, AB T0L 1W0, Canada, Canada

Similar
  
University, Coats Observatory, Banff Trail, Jack Simpson Gymnasium, Olympic Oval

The Rothney Astrophysical Observatory (RAO) is an astronomical observatory located near the hamlet of Priddis, Alberta, Canada, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) southwest of Calgary. The observatory is owned and operated by the University of Calgary (UC), and was dedicated in 1972. The facility is used for research, undergraduate and graduate teaching, and public outreach. Research performed at the RAO included a variable star search program, follow-up observations of variable star discoveries, and detailed investigation of binary stars. An outstanding minor planet search program was also performed with comet discoveries by Rob Cardinal. The RAO now participates in many follow-up observation programs, including the Quark Nova project.

Contents

Rothney astrophysical observatory rao 2008 astech award recipient


Telescopes

  • The 1.8 m (71 in) A.R. Cross Telescope (ARCT) is a Ritchey-Chrétien design dedicated in 1987. It is attached to an unusual altitude-altitude (alt-alt) mount which allows greater access to northern skies than other mounts. It was originally equipped with 1.5 m (59 in) metal mirror acquired many years earlier, but even before the telescope was completed, plans were made to acquire a conventional mirror. This new primary was fabricated in the 1980s and, under a cost-sharing agreement, used from 1990 to 1993 at Apache Point Observatory. The glass mirror was finally installed in 1996. The telescope is equipped with the Rapid Alternate Detection System (RADS) developed at UC. The computer-controlled "chopping" of the secondary mirror enables observers to perform differential photometry with the telescope.
  • The 0.5 m (20 in) Baker-Nunn Telescope was built in 1957 and donated in 1981 to RAO by the Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake. It is a modified Cassegrain reflector which was used to track satellites under a United States Air Force program. The original altitude-altitude-azimuth mount was replaced with a simpler equatorial mount when the telescoped was refurbished in 2004. DFM Engineering performed the work with the help of UC.
  • The 0.4 m (16 in) Clark-Milone Telescope (CMT), named after former co-directors Alan Clark and Eugene Milone, was installed at RAO in 1972. It was used to develop RADS in the early 1980s.

    • References

    Rothney Astrophysical Observatory Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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