The Rothney Astrophysical Observatory (RAO) is an astronomicalobservatory located near the hamlet of Priddis, Alberta, Canada, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of Calgary. The observatory is owned and operated by the University of Calgary (UC), and was dedicated in 1972.[1] 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.[2][3][4] An outstanding minor planet search program was also performed with comet discoveries by Rob Cardinal.[5] The RAO is a link in the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network.[6]
The 1.8 m (71 in) A.R. Cross Telescope (ARCT) is a Ritchey-Chrétien design dedicated in 1987.[7] It is attached to an unusual altitude-altitude (alt-alt) mount which allows greater access to northern skies than other mounts.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] 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 0.4 m (16 in) Clark-Milone Telescope (CMT), named after former co-directors Alan Clark and Eugene Milone, was installed at RAO in 1972.[13] It was used to develop RADS in the early 1980s.[14]
^"The Rothney Astrophysical Observatory | Observatories | AstroLab". ASTROLab of Mont-Mégantic National Park. Retrieved 2012-01-13.
^Williams; Milone (2011). "First results from the RAO Variable Star Search Program: I. Background, Procedure, and Results from RAO Field 1". arXiv:1101.5650 [astro-ph.GA].
^Lenhardt, Tyler; Williams, M.; Milone, E.; Langill, P. (2006). "Study of a Variable Star Discovered with the 0.5-M F/1 Baker-nunn Patrol Camera of the RAO". American Astronomical Society Meeting 208. 208: 83. Bibcode:2006AAS...208.0501L.
^Kijewski, K. E.; Milone, E. F. (1997). "New UBVRI Photometry of the Enigmatic Eclipsing Binary RT Lacertae". American Astronomical Society. 189: 730. Bibcode:1997AAS...18912007K.
^. www.ucalgary.ca. Archived from the original on 2010-08-26.
^"Skynet: RAO". Skynet Robotic Telescope Network. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
^ ab"History of the RAO | Rothney Astrophysical Observatory / University of Calgary". University of Calgary Department of Physics & Astronomy. Retrieved 2012-01-13.
^"The 1.8 meter ARCT Telescope". University of Calgary Department of Physics & Astronomy. Retrieved 2012-01-13.
^Peterson, Jim. . Apache Point Observatory. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
^Milone, E. F.; Langill, P. (1999). "CCD Photometry with the A. R. Cross Telescope of the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory". Precision CCD Photometry. 189: 103. Bibcode:1999ASPC..189..103M.
^Milone, E. F.; Robb, R. M.; Babott, F. M.; Hansen, C. H. (1982). "Rapid alternate detection system of the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory". Applied Optics. 21 (16): 2992–5. Bibcode:1982ApOpt..21.2992M. doi:10.1364/AO.21.002992. PMID 20396162.
^"University of Calgary Modernizes Baker-Nunn Camera". DFM Engineering. Retrieved 2012-01-13.
^"The 0.4 meter Telescope". University of Calgary Department of Physics & Astronomy. Retrieved 2012-01-13.
^Milone, E. F.; Robb, R. M. (1983). "Photometry with the Rapid Alternate Detection System". Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 95: 666. Bibcode:1983PASP...95..666M. doi:10.1086/131237.
External linksEdit
Rothney Astrophysical Observatory homepage
Rothney Astrophysical Observatory Clear Sky Chart Forecasts of observing conditions.
rothney, astrophysical, observatory, astronomical, observatory, located, near, hamlet, priddis, alberta, canada, about, kilometres, southwest, calgary, observatory, owned, operated, university, calgary, dedicated, 1972, facility, used, research, undergraduate,. The Rothney Astrophysical Observatory RAO is an astronomical observatory located near the hamlet of Priddis Alberta Canada about 20 kilometres 12 mi southwest of Calgary The observatory is owned and operated by the University of Calgary UC and was dedicated in 1972 1 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 2 3 4 An outstanding minor planet search program was also performed with comet discoveries by Rob Cardinal 5 The RAO is a link in the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network 6 Rothney Astrophysical ObservatoryOrganizationUniversity of CalgaryObservatory code661 Locationnear Priddis AlbertaCoordinates50 52 06 N 114 17 28 W 50 8684 N 114 2910 W 50 8684 114 2910Altitude1 269 metres 4 163 ft Established1972 1972 WebsiteRothney Astrophysical ObservatoryTelescopesA R Cross Telescope1 8 m reflectorBaker Nunn Telescope0 5 m reflectorClark Milone Telescope0 4 m reflectorLocation of Rothney Astrophysical Observatory Related media on Commons edit on Wikidata Contents 1 Telescopes 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksTelescopes EditThe 1 8 m 71 in A R Cross Telescope ARCT is a Ritchey Chretien design dedicated in 1987 7 It is attached to an unusual altitude altitude alt alt mount which allows greater access to northern skies than other mounts 8 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 9 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 10 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 7 The original altitude altitude azimuth mount was replaced with a simpler equatorial mount when the telescoped was refurbished in 2004 11 DFM Engineering performed the work with the help of UC 12 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 13 It was used to develop RADS in the early 1980s 14 See also EditDominion Astrophysical Observatory List of astronomical observatories in Canada List of astronomical observatoriesReferences Edit The Rothney Astrophysical Observatory Observatories AstroLab ASTROLab of Mont Megantic National Park Retrieved 2012 01 13 Williams Milone 2011 First results from the RAO Variable Star Search Program I Background Procedure and Results from RAO Field 1 arXiv 1101 5650 astro ph GA Lenhardt Tyler Williams M Milone E Langill P 2006 Study of a Variable Star Discovered with the 0 5 M F 1 Baker nunn Patrol Camera of the RAO American Astronomical Society Meeting 208 208 83 Bibcode 2006AAS 208 0501L Kijewski K E Milone E F 1997 New UBVRI Photometry of the Enigmatic Eclipsing Binary RT Lacertae American Astronomical Society 189 730 Bibcode 1997AAS 18912007K Announcements Rothney Astrophysical Observatory University of Calgary www ucalgary ca Archived from the original on 2010 08 26 Skynet RAO Skynet Robotic Telescope Network Retrieved September 13 2023 a b History of the RAO Rothney Astrophysical Observatory University of Calgary University of Calgary Department of Physics amp Astronomy Retrieved 2012 01 13 The 1 8 meter ARCT Telescope University of Calgary Department of Physics amp Astronomy Retrieved 2012 01 13 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 Milone E F Langill P 1999 CCD Photometry with the A R Cross Telescope of the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory Precision CCD Photometry 189 103 Bibcode 1999ASPC 189 103M Milone E F Robb R M Babott F M Hansen C H 1982 Rapid alternate detection system of the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory Applied Optics 21 16 2992 5 Bibcode 1982ApOpt 21 2992M doi 10 1364 AO 21 002992 PMID 20396162 University of Calgary Modernizes Baker Nunn Camera DFM Engineering Retrieved 2012 01 13 The 0 4 meter Telescope University of Calgary Department of Physics amp Astronomy Retrieved 2012 01 13 Milone E F Robb R M 1983 Photometry with the Rapid Alternate Detection System Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific 95 666 Bibcode 1983PASP 95 666M doi 10 1086 131237 External links EditRothney Astrophysical Observatory homepage Rothney Astrophysical Observatory Clear Sky Chart Forecasts of observing conditions Portals nbsp Canada nbsp Astronomy nbsp Stars nbsp Spaceflight nbsp Outer space nbsp Solar System nbsp Education nbsp Science Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rothney Astrophysical Observatory amp oldid 1175286530, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
