Corralitos Observatory was an astronomical observatory located in the Rough and Ready Hills approximately 30 kilometers (19 mi) west of Las Cruces, New Mexico. It was formally dedicated on October 12, 1965, serving as a remote station of Dearborn Observatory, Northwestern University.[1] In October 1965, a NASA program to detect transient lunar phenomenon (TLP) was begun by the staff.[2] Using two-person observer teams, a total of 6,466 man-hours of lunar observation was recorded.[1] The program was run until 1972 but did not confirm any TLP.[3] Using ninety-eight selected reports of TLPs received from amateurs during this period, 39 were checked from Corralitos Observatory.[4]
On October 22, 1966, a specialized Schmidt wide-angle camera was set up at the observatory. Sponsored by Chrysler, the telescope employed a 0.152 m (6.0 in) aperture correction mirror and a 0.3 m (12 in) spherical mirror with combined a 0.6 m (24 in) focal length. It was built as a test model for a far ultraviolet camera intended for the Apollo spacecraft. This may have been the first operational camera of its type.[5] Also in 1966, a 0.3 m (12 in) optical diameter image orthicon system previously located at Organ Pass Station in the Organ Mountains east of Las Cruces was moved to Corralitos.[6] It was replaced with a 0.4 m (16 in) system in 1969.[1] The observatory was mainly staffed by students of New Mexico State University.
During the 1970s, the first operational semi-automated supernovae search program was conducted at the observatory, using 0.6 m (24 in) and 0.3 m (12 in) Cassegrain telescopes. After the telescope was automatically computer pointed to a galaxy, it would allow visual comparison of a high-resolution monitor to a master picture, though photographed also. For difficult galaxies the high-resolution screen photograph negatives were checked within an hour and compared to a prior master set.[7] Ten supernovae were found at Corralitos.[1] On April 14, 1970, U.T. James and Mickey Gallivan, using the 0.6 m telescope, were believed to have been the only ones to have photographed the explosion of Apollo 13 as it was approaching the Moon. In 1971, a photograph of Apollo 14 separating from the S-IVB rocket was taken by Justus Dunlap from the observatory.[8]
In 1973, the site included 0.6 m (24 in) and 0.4 m (16 in) Cassegrain telescopes equipped with storage tubes, remote readouts and image orthicon electronic imaging tubes.[9] The 0.6 m telescope had automated operation capability controlled by a computer. A 0.3 m (12 in) Cassegrain was available for photometry, and the 0.152 m (6.0 in) Chrysler Schmidt telescope was still available.[9] By 1977, only the 0.6 m and 0.4 m telescopes were reported as operational.[10]
In 1978 operations at the site were halted due to funding issues, and in 1981 the observatory was transferred to the Corralitos Astronomical Research Association (CARA).[11][12]
As recently as 1997, the observatory was reported to be engaged in long-term photometric monitoring of faint Be stars.[13] The CARA website had not been updated since 2001 prior to it being shut down in 2012, and there are no references to new observatory activities in the academic literature.[14][15]
^ abcdHynek, J. Allen (April 1976). "The Corralitos Observatory Program for the Detection of Lunar Transient Phenomena". NASA Sti/Recon Technical Report N. NASA. 76: 23125. Bibcode:1976STIN...7623125H.[dead link]
^Hynek, J. A.; Dunlap, J. R. (February 1966), "A Lunar Transient Phenomena Detection Program", Astronomical Journal, 71: 389, Bibcode:1966AJ.....71R.389H, doi:10.1086/110108
^Rutkowski, C. (October 1981), "What is happening on the moon - Lunar Transient Phenomena", Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, 75: 237–241, Bibcode:1981JRASC..75..237R
^Edith A. Müller; Arnost Jappel, eds. (1976), "Commission 17: The Moon", Proceedings of the sixteenth General assembly, vol. 16, Grenoble: Springer, p. 151, ISBN90-277-0836-3
^Epstein, Lewis (April 1967), "All-Reflecting Schmidt Camera", Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 79 (467): 132, Bibcode:1967PASP...79..132E, doi:10.1086/128453
^King, I. R. (1967). "Leuschner Observatory report". Astronomical Journal. 72: 1259. Bibcode:1967AJ.....72.1259K. doi:10.1086/110404.
^Colgate, S. A.; Moore, E. P.; Carlson, R. (August 1975), "A fully automated digitally controlled 30-inch telescope", Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 87: 572, Bibcode:1975PASP...87..565C, doi:10.1086/129812
^Kantrowitz, Arthur (April 1971), "The Relevance of Space", Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 27 (4): 33, retrieved 2011-02-18
^ abHynek, J. A. (January 1973), "Lindheimer Astronomical Research Center and Dearborn Observatory, Evanston, Illinois; Corralitos Observatory, Las Cruces, New Mexico. Observatory reports", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 5: 164–166, Bibcode:1973BAAS....5..164H
^Bahng, J. D. R. (March 1977), "Lindheimer Astronomical Research Center and Dearborn Observatory, Evanston, Illinois; Corralitos Observatory, Las Cruces, New Mexico. Observatory reports", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 9: 142–143, Bibcode:1977BAAS....9..142B
^Bahng, J. D. R. (January 1978), "Lindheimer Astronomical Research Center and Dearborn Observatory, Evanston, Illinois. Observatory reports", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 10: 206–207, Bibcode:1978BAAS...10..206B
^Percy, J. R.; et al. (November 1997), "Photometric Monitoring of Bright Be Stars. III. 1988–89 and 1992–95", Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 109: 1215–1220, Bibcode:1997PASP..109.1215P, doi:10.1086/133998
^. Archived from the original on 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
^"Corralitos Observatory since 2010", Google Scholar, retrieved 2011-11-01
External links
History of Dearborn Observatory from Northwestern University Astronomy and Astrophysics
corralitos, observatory, astronomical, observatory, located, rough, ready, hills, approximately, kilometers, west, cruces, mexico, formally, dedicated, october, 1965, serving, remote, station, dearborn, observatory, northwestern, university, october, 1965, nas. Corralitos Observatory was an astronomical observatory located in the Rough and Ready Hills approximately 30 kilometers 19 mi west of Las Cruces New Mexico It was formally dedicated on October 12 1965 serving as a remote station of Dearborn Observatory Northwestern University 1 In October 1965 a NASA program to detect transient lunar phenomenon TLP was begun by the staff 2 Using two person observer teams a total of 6 466 man hours of lunar observation was recorded 1 The program was run until 1972 but did not confirm any TLP 3 Using ninety eight selected reports of TLPs received from amateurs during this period 39 were checked from Corralitos Observatory 4 Corralitos ObservatoryOrganizationCorralitos Astronomical Research AssociationLocationLas Cruces New Mexico USCoordinates32 22 51 N 107 02 38 W 32 3808 N 107 0438 W 32 3808 107 0438 Coordinates 32 22 51 N 107 02 38 W 32 3808 N 107 0438 W 32 3808 107 0438Altitude1 453 meters 4 767 ft Established1965 1965 Closedafter 2001WebsiteCorralitos ObservatoryLocation of Corralitos Observatory edit on Wikidata On October 22 1966 a specialized Schmidt wide angle camera was set up at the observatory Sponsored by Chrysler the telescope employed a 0 152 m 6 0 in aperture correction mirror and a 0 3 m 12 in spherical mirror with combined a 0 6 m 24 in focal length It was built as a test model for a far ultraviolet camera intended for the Apollo spacecraft This may have been the first operational camera of its type 5 Also in 1966 a 0 3 m 12 in optical diameter image orthicon system previously located at Organ Pass Station in the Organ Mountains east of Las Cruces was moved to Corralitos 6 It was replaced with a 0 4 m 16 in system in 1969 1 The observatory was mainly staffed by students of New Mexico State University During the 1970s the first operational semi automated supernovae search program was conducted at the observatory using 0 6 m 24 in and 0 3 m 12 in Cassegrain telescopes After the telescope was automatically computer pointed to a galaxy it would allow visual comparison of a high resolution monitor to a master picture though photographed also For difficult galaxies the high resolution screen photograph negatives were checked within an hour and compared to a prior master set 7 Ten supernovae were found at Corralitos 1 On April 14 1970 U T James and Mickey Gallivan using the 0 6 m telescope were believed to have been the only ones to have photographed the explosion of Apollo 13 as it was approaching the Moon In 1971 a photograph of Apollo 14 separating from the S IVB rocket was taken by Justus Dunlap from the observatory 8 In 1973 the site included 0 6 m 24 in and 0 4 m 16 in Cassegrain telescopes equipped with storage tubes remote readouts and image orthicon electronic imaging tubes 9 The 0 6 m telescope had automated operation capability controlled by a computer A 0 3 m 12 in Cassegrain was available for photometry and the 0 152 m 6 0 in Chrysler Schmidt telescope was still available 9 By 1977 only the 0 6 m and 0 4 m telescopes were reported as operational 10 In 1978 operations at the site were halted due to funding issues and in 1981 the observatory was transferred to the Corralitos Astronomical Research Association CARA 11 12 As recently as 1997 the observatory was reported to be engaged in long term photometric monitoring of faint Be stars 13 The CARA website had not been updated since 2001 prior to it being shut down in 2012 and there are no references to new observatory activities in the academic literature 14 15 See also EditApache Point Observatory List of astronomical observatoriesReferences Edit a b c d Hynek J Allen April 1976 The Corralitos Observatory Program for the Detection of Lunar Transient Phenomena NASA Sti Recon Technical Report N NASA 76 23125 Bibcode 1976STIN 7623125H dead link Hynek J A Dunlap J R February 1966 A Lunar Transient Phenomena Detection Program Astronomical Journal 71 389 Bibcode 1966AJ 71R 389H doi 10 1086 110108 Rutkowski C October 1981 What is happening on the moon Lunar Transient Phenomena Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada 75 237 241 Bibcode 1981JRASC 75 237R Edith A Muller Arnost Jappel eds 1976 Commission 17 The Moon Proceedings of the sixteenth General assembly vol 16 Grenoble Springer p 151 ISBN 90 277 0836 3 Epstein Lewis April 1967 All Reflecting Schmidt Camera Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific 79 467 132 Bibcode 1967PASP 79 132E doi 10 1086 128453 King I R 1967 Leuschner Observatory report Astronomical Journal 72 1259 Bibcode 1967AJ 72 1259K doi 10 1086 110404 Colgate S A Moore E P Carlson R August 1975 A fully automated digitally controlled 30 inch telescope Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific 87 572 Bibcode 1975PASP 87 565C doi 10 1086 129812 Kantrowitz Arthur April 1971 The Relevance of Space Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 27 4 33 retrieved 2011 02 18 a b Hynek J A January 1973 Lindheimer Astronomical Research Center and Dearborn Observatory Evanston Illinois Corralitos Observatory Las Cruces New Mexico Observatory reports Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 5 164 166 Bibcode 1973BAAS 5 164H Bahng J D R March 1977 Lindheimer Astronomical Research Center and Dearborn Observatory Evanston Illinois Corralitos Observatory Las Cruces New Mexico Observatory reports Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 9 142 143 Bibcode 1977BAAS 9 142B Bahng J D R January 1978 Lindheimer Astronomical Research Center and Dearborn Observatory Evanston Illinois Observatory reports Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 10 206 207 Bibcode 1978BAAS 10 206B Guide to the J Allen Hynek 1910 1986 Papers Northwestern University retrieved 2011 02 18 Percy J R et al November 1997 Photometric Monitoring of Bright Be Stars III 1988 89 and 1992 95 Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific 109 1215 1220 Bibcode 1997PASP 109 1215P doi 10 1086 133998 Corralitos Astronomical Research Association Archived from the original on 2011 06 28 Retrieved 2012 08 18 Corralitos Observatory since 2010 Google Scholar retrieved 2011 11 01External links EditHistory of Dearborn Observatory from Northwestern University Astronomy and AstrophysicsPortals Astronomy Stars Spaceflight Outer space Solar System Education Science Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Corralitos Observatory amp oldid 1035589779, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
