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Apache Point Observatory

January 30, 2023

The Apache Point Observatory (APO; obs. code: 705) is an astronomical observatory located in the Sacramento Mountains in Sunspot, New Mexico, United States, approximately 18 miles (29 km) south of Cloudcroft. The observatory is operated by New Mexico State University (NMSU) and owned by the Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC). Access to the telescopes and buildings is private and restricted.[1]

Apache Point Observatory
ARCSAT and SDSS telescope buildings at the Apache Point Observatory.
Alternative namesAPO
OrganizationAstrophysical Research Consortium
Observatory code 705 
LocationSunspot, New Mexico
Coordinates32°46′49″N 105°49′13″W / 32.78028°N 105.82028°W / 32.78028; -105.82028Coordinates: 32°46′49″N 105°49′13″W / 32.78028°N 105.82028°W / 32.78028; -105.82028
Altitude2,788 meters (9,147 ft)
Weather65% clear nights
Established1985 (1985)
Websitewww.apo.nmsu.edu
Telescopes
Astrophysical Research Consortium telescope3.5 m reflector
Sloan Digital Sky Survey telescope2.5 m reflector
New Mexico State University telescope1.0 m reflector
ARCSAT0.5 m reflector
Location of Apache Point Observatory
  Related media on Commons
[edit on Wikidata]

History

The ARC was formed in 1984 with the goal of building the 3.5 m telescope. It originally consisted of five institutions: New Mexico State University, University of Washington, University of Chicago, Princeton University, and Washington State University, some of which have since withdrawn.[citation needed]

Several additional organizations have joined over time: Johns Hopkins University, University of Colorado, University of Virginia, Georgia State University, University of Oklahoma, University of Wyoming, and Brigham Young University. Funding for the 3.5 m and 0.5 m telescopes comes from the consortium members, but funds for the 2.5 m telescope come from a much wider array of sources. The 1.0 m telescope is supported exclusively by NMSU.[2]

Telescopes

ARC 3.5 m

 
The ARC 3.5-meter telescope

The ARC 3.5 m (140 in) telescope is a Ritchey-Chretien reflector on an alt-azimuth mount with instruments attached at several focal points. Construction of the building began in 1985, but full operations of the telescope were delayed until November 1994 due to problems with fabricating the primary mirror.[3] From 1991 until early 1993 the telescope was fitted with a 1.8 m mirror now located at Rothney Astrophysical Observatory under a cost-sharing agreement.[4][5]

There are a variety of optical and near-infrared instruments available for the 3.5 m telescope, including:

  • The ARC echelle spectrometer (ARCES) uses a 2048 × 2048 pixel CCD and has a resolution of  .[6]
  • The Double Imaging Spectrometer (DIS) is a low-resolution optical spectrometer.[7]
  • KOSMOS, on long-term loan from NOIRLab, is a low-resolution optical spectrometer.
  • The Near Infrared Camera/Fabry–Pérot Spectrometer (NICFPS) was developed at the University of Colorado. It uses a 1024 × 1024 H1RG HgCdTe infrared detector and a near-infrared Fabry–Pérot interferometer. It has many narrow band filters, including H2, [Fe II], and [SiVI]. It is unique among astronomical Fabry-Pérot devices in that it is cooled with liquid nitrogen.[8]
  • The Astrophysical Research Consortium Telescope Imaging Camera (ARCTIC) is an optical imaging instrument with a 4096 × 4096 pixel CCD.[9]
  • TripleSpec (Tspec) is a near infrared spectrograph which provides continuous wavelength coverage over the range 0.94–2.46 µm at moderate resolution ( , depending on the choice of slit).[10]
  • Agile is a high-speed imager with a 1024 x 1024 frame transfer CCD.[citation needed]

The 3.5 m telescope is also used by the Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation (APOLLO) lunar-ranging project. The APOLLO laser has been operational since October 2005, and routinely accomplishes millimeter-level range accuracy between the Earth and the Moon.[11][12]

Observations using the 3.5 m telescope can be carried out remotely by observers using TUI, the Telescope User Interface, via the internet.[13]

SDSS 2.5 m

 
Enclosure of the SDSS

The SDSS 2.5 m (98 in) telescope is used for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and began operating in 2000. It is a Ritchey-Chretien reflector on an alt-azimuth mount housed under a roll-off enclosure. It was designed with an unusually large 3° field of view to better support its primary task of surveying the entire sky.[14]

NMSU 1.0 m

The NMSU 1.0 m (39 in) telescope is a Ritchey-Chretien reflector set on an alt-azimuth mount, and was completed in 1994.[15][16] A 2048 × 2048 CCD mounted at the Nasmyth focus provides at 15.7 arcminute view of the sky.[17]

0.5 m ARCSAT

The ARC Small Aperture Telescope (ARCSAT) was previously called the Photometric Telescope (PT) when it was part of the SDSS project. It is a 0.5 m (20 in) reflecting telescope on an equatorial mount, with a single CCD camera cooled by a CryoTiger unit.[18] It was built in 1991, moved from its previous location in 1998, and used by the SDSS until 2005.[19] It is currently used for small research projects.

Former telescopes

  • A 0.6 m (24 in) reflecting telescope was built in 1993 to monitor sky conditions for the SDSS project. It never operated in a satisfactory manner, and was replaced with the 0.5 m PT.[19]

List of discovered minor planets

The Minor Planet Center credits the discovery of the following minor planets directly to the Apache Point Observatory:[20]

(227119) 2005 ND85 3 July 2005 list
(245170) 2004 TE116 4 October 2004 list
(254369) 2004 TD116 4 October 2004 list
(268095) 2004 RJ257 9 September 2004 list
(271691) 2004 RW106 9 September 2004 list
(271801) 2004 TD78 4 October 2004 list
(283979) 2004 RN170 8 September 2004 list
(399680) 2004 TP21 4 October 2004 list
(427855) 2005 NN67 3 July 2005 list

See also

References

  1. ^ "Public Access and Tours". Apache Point Observatory. 20 August 2018.
  2. ^ Holtzman, Jon; et al. (2009-03-15). Apache Point Observatory: Facilities, Operations, and Partnerships. Astro2010: The Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey (Report). National Academies. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
  3. ^ Peterson, Jim. . Apache Point Observatory. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  4. ^ "Annual Reports of Astronomical Observatories and Departments: Apache Point Observatory, Astrophysical Research Consortium". Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society. 24: 17. 1992. Bibcode:1992BAAS...24...17.
  5. ^ York, D. G. (1994). "University of Chicago, Apache Point Observatory/Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Chicago, Illinois 60637". Bulletin of the Astronomical Society. 26 (1): 58. Bibcode:1994BAAS...26...58Y.
  6. ^ "ARC 3.5m | ARCES (Echelle)". Apache Point Observatory. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  7. ^ "ARC 3.5m | DIS". Apache Point Observatory. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  8. ^ "ARC 3.5m | NICFPS". Apache Point Observatory. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  9. ^ "ARC 3.5m | Arctic".
  10. ^ "ARC 3.5m | TripleSpec". Apache Point Observatory. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  11. ^ "APOLLO". Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  12. ^ Battat, J. B. R.; Murphy, T. W.; Adelberger, E. G.; Gillespie, B.; Hoyle, C. D.; McMillan, R. J.; Michelsen, E. L.; Nordtvedt, K.; Orin, A. E.; Stubbs, C. W.; Swanson, H. E. (1 January 2009). "The Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation (APOLLO): Two Years of Millimeter-Precision Measurements of the Earth-Moon Range1". Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 121 (875): 29–40. Bibcode:2009PASP..121...29B. doi:10.1086/596748.
  13. ^ "TUI Telescope User Interface". Apache Point Observatory. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  14. ^ Gunn, James E.; et al. (1 April 2006). "The 2.5 m Telescope of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey". The Astronomical Journal. 131 (4): 2332–2359. arXiv:astro-ph/0602326. Bibcode:2006AJ....131.2332G. doi:10.1086/500975. S2CID 7080617.
  15. ^ Holtzman, Jon A.; Harrison, Thomas E.; Coughlin, Jeffrey L. (1 January 2010). "The NMSU 1 m Telescope at Apache Point Observatory". Advances in Astronomy. 2010: 193086. Bibcode:2010AdAst2010E..46H. doi:10.1155/2010/193086.
  16. ^ "Annual Reports of Astronomical Observatories and Departments: Astrophysical Research Consortium, Apache Point Observatory". Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society. 27: 9. 1995. Bibcode:1995BAAS...27....9.
  17. ^ "APO 1m telescope Home Page". Apache Point Observatory. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  18. ^ "Astrophysical Research Consortium Small Aperture Telescope". Apache Point Observatory. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  19. ^ a b "History of the 20-inch Telescope". Apache Point Observatory. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  20. ^ "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Apache Point Observatory.
  • Astronomy Department at NMSU
  • Sloan Digital Sky Survey homepage
  • Apache Point Clear Sky Clock Forecasts of observing conditions.

January 30, 2023
apache, point, observatory, code, astronomical, observatory, located, sacramento, mountains, sunspot, mexico, united, states, approximately, miles, south, cloudcroft, observatory, operated, mexico, state, university, nmsu, owned, astrophysical, research, conso. The Apache Point Observatory APO obs code 705 is an astronomical observatory located in the Sacramento Mountains in Sunspot New Mexico United States approximately 18 miles 29 km south of Cloudcroft The observatory is operated by New Mexico State University NMSU and owned by the Astrophysical Research Consortium ARC Access to the telescopes and buildings is private and restricted 1 Apache Point ObservatoryARCSAT and SDSS telescope buildings at the Apache Point Observatory Alternative namesAPOOrganizationAstrophysical Research ConsortiumObservatory code705 LocationSunspot New MexicoCoordinates32 46 49 N 105 49 13 W 32 78028 N 105 82028 W 32 78028 105 82028 Coordinates 32 46 49 N 105 49 13 W 32 78028 N 105 82028 W 32 78028 105 82028Altitude2 788 meters 9 147 ft Weather65 clear nightsEstablished1985 1985 Websitewww wbr apo wbr nmsu wbr eduTelescopesAstrophysical Research Consortium telescope3 5 m reflectorSloan Digital Sky Survey telescope2 5 m reflectorNew Mexico State University telescope1 0 m reflectorARCSAT0 5 m reflectorLocation of Apache Point Observatory Related media on Commons edit on Wikidata Contents 1 History 2 Telescopes 2 1 ARC 3 5 m 2 2 SDSS 2 5 m 2 3 NMSU 1 0 m 2 4 0 5 m ARCSAT 2 5 Former telescopes 3 List of discovered minor planets 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditThe ARC was formed in 1984 with the goal of building the 3 5 m telescope It originally consisted of five institutions New Mexico State University University of Washington University of Chicago Princeton University and Washington State University some of which have since withdrawn citation needed Several additional organizations have joined over time Johns Hopkins University University of Colorado University of Virginia Georgia State University University of Oklahoma University of Wyoming and Brigham Young University Funding for the 3 5 m and 0 5 m telescopes comes from the consortium members but funds for the 2 5 m telescope come from a much wider array of sources The 1 0 m telescope is supported exclusively by NMSU 2 Telescopes EditARC 3 5 m Edit The ARC 3 5 meter telescope The ARC 3 5 m 140 in telescope is a Ritchey Chretien reflector on an alt azimuth mount with instruments attached at several focal points Construction of the building began in 1985 but full operations of the telescope were delayed until November 1994 due to problems with fabricating the primary mirror 3 From 1991 until early 1993 the telescope was fitted with a 1 8 m mirror now located at Rothney Astrophysical Observatory under a cost sharing agreement 4 5 There are a variety of optical and near infrared instruments available for the 3 5 m telescope including The ARC echelle spectrometer ARCES uses a 2048 2048 pixel CCD and has a resolution of R 31 500 displaystyle R sim 31 500 6 The Double Imaging Spectrometer DIS is a low resolution optical spectrometer 7 KOSMOS on long term loan from NOIRLab is a low resolution optical spectrometer The Near Infrared Camera Fabry Perot Spectrometer NICFPS was developed at the University of Colorado It uses a 1024 1024 H1RG HgCdTe infrared detector and a near infrared Fabry Perot interferometer It has many narrow band filters including H2 Fe II and SiVI It is unique among astronomical Fabry Perot devices in that it is cooled with liquid nitrogen 8 The Astrophysical Research Consortium Telescope Imaging Camera ARCTIC is an optical imaging instrument with a 4096 4096 pixel CCD 9 TripleSpec Tspec is a near infrared spectrograph which provides continuous wavelength coverage over the range 0 94 2 46 µm at moderate resolution R 3500 displaystyle R sim 3500 depending on the choice of slit 10 Agile is a high speed imager with a 1024 x 1024 frame transfer CCD citation needed The 3 5 m telescope is also used by the Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser ranging Operation APOLLO lunar ranging project The APOLLO laser has been operational since October 2005 and routinely accomplishes millimeter level range accuracy between the Earth and the Moon 11 12 Observations using the 3 5 m telescope can be carried out remotely by observers using TUI the Telescope User Interface via the internet 13 SDSS 2 5 m Edit Enclosure of the SDSS The SDSS 2 5 m 98 in telescope is used for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and began operating in 2000 It is a Ritchey Chretien reflector on an alt azimuth mount housed under a roll off enclosure It was designed with an unusually large 3 field of view to better support its primary task of surveying the entire sky 14 NMSU 1 0 m Edit The NMSU 1 0 m 39 in telescope is a Ritchey Chretien reflector set on an alt azimuth mount and was completed in 1994 15 16 A 2048 2048 CCD mounted at the Nasmyth focus provides at 15 7 arcminute view of the sky 17 0 5 m ARCSAT Edit The ARC Small Aperture Telescope ARCSAT was previously called the Photometric Telescope PT when it was part of the SDSS project It is a 0 5 m 20 in reflecting telescope on an equatorial mount with a single CCD camera cooled by a CryoTiger unit 18 It was built in 1991 moved from its previous location in 1998 and used by the SDSS until 2005 19 It is currently used for small research projects Former telescopes Edit A 0 6 m 24 in reflecting telescope was built in 1993 to monitor sky conditions for the SDSS project It never operated in a satisfactory manner and was replaced with the 0 5 m PT 19 List of discovered minor planets EditThe Minor Planet Center credits the discovery of the following minor planets directly to the Apache Point Observatory 20 227119 2005 ND85 3 July 2005 list 245170 2004 TE116 4 October 2004 list 254369 2004 TD116 4 October 2004 list 268095 2004 RJ257 9 September 2004 list 271691 2004 RW106 9 September 2004 list 271801 2004 TD78 4 October 2004 list 283979 2004 RN170 8 September 2004 list 399680 2004 TP21 4 October 2004 list 427855 2005 NN67 3 July 2005 listSee also EditList of astronomical observatories List of largest optical reflecting telescopes List of minor planet discoverers Discovering dedicated institutions Sunspot Solar ObservatoryReferences Edit Public Access and Tours Apache Point Observatory 20 August 2018 Holtzman Jon et al 2009 03 15 Apache Point Observatory Facilities Operations and Partnerships Astro2010 The Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey Report National Academies Retrieved 2012 01 14 Peterson Jim A Brief History of the Astrophysical Research Consortium ARC and the Apache Point Observatory APO Apache Point Observatory Archived from the original on 2011 08 11 Retrieved 2012 01 07 Annual Reports of Astronomical Observatories and Departments Apache Point Observatory Astrophysical Research Consortium Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 24 17 1992 Bibcode 1992BAAS 24 17 York D G 1994 University of Chicago Apache Point Observatory Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics Chicago Illinois 60637 Bulletin of the Astronomical Society 26 1 58 Bibcode 1994BAAS 26 58Y ARC 3 5m ARCES Echelle Apache Point Observatory Retrieved 2012 01 07 ARC 3 5m DIS Apache Point Observatory Retrieved 2012 01 07 ARC 3 5m NICFPS Apache Point Observatory Retrieved 2012 01 07 ARC 3 5m Arctic ARC 3 5m TripleSpec Apache Point Observatory Retrieved 2012 01 07 APOLLO Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser ranging Operation Retrieved 2012 01 07 Battat J B R Murphy T W Adelberger E G Gillespie B Hoyle C D McMillan R J Michelsen E L Nordtvedt K Orin A E Stubbs C W Swanson H E 1 January 2009 The Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser ranging Operation APOLLO Two Years of Millimeter Precision Measurements of the Earth Moon Range1 Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific 121 875 29 40 Bibcode 2009PASP 121 29B doi 10 1086 596748 TUI Telescope User Interface Apache Point Observatory Retrieved 2012 01 07 Gunn James E et al 1 April 2006 The 2 5 m Telescope of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey The Astronomical Journal 131 4 2332 2359 arXiv astro ph 0602326 Bibcode 2006AJ 131 2332G doi 10 1086 500975 S2CID 7080617 Holtzman Jon A Harrison Thomas E Coughlin Jeffrey L 1 January 2010 The NMSU 1 m Telescope at Apache Point Observatory Advances in Astronomy 2010 193086 Bibcode 2010AdAst2010E 46H doi 10 1155 2010 193086 Annual Reports of Astronomical Observatories and Departments Astrophysical Research Consortium Apache Point Observatory Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 27 9 1995 Bibcode 1995BAAS 27 9 APO 1m telescope Home Page Apache Point Observatory Retrieved 2012 01 07 Astrophysical Research Consortium Small Aperture Telescope Apache Point Observatory Retrieved 2012 01 07 a b History of the 20 inch Telescope Apache Point Observatory Retrieved 2012 01 07 Minor Planet Discoverers by number Minor Planet Center 14 November 2016 Retrieved 29 November 2016 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Apache Point Observatory Astronomy Department at NMSU Sloan Digital Sky Survey homepage Apache Point Clear Sky Clock Forecasts of observing conditions Portals Astronomy Stars Spaceflight Outer space Solar System Education Science Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Apache Point Observatory amp oldid 1132118635, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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