An Introduction to Observatories, Domes, and Telescopes All Grades
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Manastash Ridge Observatory History by Julie Lutz
Manastash Ridge Observatory History by Julie Lutz MRO Site Survey: Western Washington has a well-deserved reputation for clouds and rainy weather. Hence, the desirability of an observatory for professional astronomers in Washington state was not instantly obvious. However, a drive to the east side of the Cascade mountains yields much better weather. Long time University of Washington (UW) astronomer Theodor Jacobson started thinking about convenient telescope access for faculty and students when the university decided to expand astronomy dramatically in the mid-1960s. When the first UW astronomy department chair George Wallerstein arrived in 1965, he immediately started a campaign to get a research telescope. Wallerstein came to UW from Berkeley where faculty and Ph.D. students had ready access to telescopes, including a productive 20-inch. He felt strongly that a high-quality research telescope in Washington state would help create a high-quality astronomy department. A grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) provided enough money to purchase automated cameras for a site survey and a 16-inch Boller and Chivens telescope. The eastern side of the Cascade mountains was the obvious region to survey for the best telescope location. The site had to be within reasonable driving distance of the UW Seattle campus and have road access on at least a dirt/gravel track. Founding telescope engineer and jack-of-all-trades Ed Mannery surveyed severall locations during 1965/66. The best site turned out to be Manastash Ridge on US Forest Service land southwest of Ellensberg. However, Rattlesnake Mountain on the Hanford Reservation (owned by the US Department of Energy) outside of Richland had a developed road and readily-available electricity. -
The 100-Inch Telescope of the Mount Wilson Observatory
The 100-Inch Telescope of the Mount Wilson Observatory An International Historical Mechanical Engineering Landmark The American Society of Mechanical Engineers June 20, 1981 Mount Wilson Observatory Mount Wilson, California BACKGROUND THE MOUNT WILSON OBSERVATORY was founded in 1904 by the CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASH- INGTON, a private foundation for scientific research supported largely from endowments provided by Andrew Carnegie. Within a few years, the Observatory became the world center of research in the new science of astrophysics, which is the application of principles of physics to astronomical objects beyond the earth. These include the sun, the planets of our solar system, the stars in our galaxy, and the system of galaxies that reaches to the limits of the The completed facility. visible universe. SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS The Mount Wilson 100-inch reflector dominated dis- coveries in astronomy from its beginning in 1918 until the dedication of the Palomar 200-inch reflector in 1948. (Both telescopes are primarily the result of the lifework of one man — George Ellery Hale.) Many of the foundations of modern astrophysics were set down by work with this telescope. One of the most important results was the discovery that the intrinsic luminosities (total light output) of the stars could be found by inspection of the record made when starlight is dispersed into a spectrum by a prism or a grating. These so-called spectroscopic absolute lumi- nosities, discovered at Mount Wilson and developed for over forty years, opened the way to an understanding of the evolution of the stars and eventually to their ages. Perhaps the most important scientific discovery of the 20th century is that we live in an expanding Universe. -
A Needs Analysis Study of Amateur Astronomers for the National Virtual Observatory : Aaron Price1 Lou Cohen1 Janet Mattei1 Nahide Craig2
A Needs Analysis Study of Amateur Astronomers For the National Virtual Observatory : Aaron Price1 Lou Cohen1 Janet Mattei1 Nahide Craig2 1Clinton B. Ford Astronomical Data & Research Center American Association of Variable Star Observers 25 Birch St, Cambridge MA 02138 2Space Sciences Laboratory University of California, Berkeley 7 Gauss Way Berkeley, CA 94720-7450 Abstract Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative processes, a survey was con- ducted of the amateur astronomy community to identify outstanding needs which the National Virtual Observatory (NVO) could fulfill. This is the final report of that project, which was conducted by The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) on behalf of the SEGway Project at the Center for Science Educations @ Space Sci- ences Laboratory, UC Berkeley. Background The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) has worked on behalf of the SEGway Project at the Center for Science Educations @ Space Sciences Labo- ratory, UC Berkeley, to conduct a needs analysis study of the amateur astronomy com- munity. The goal of the study is to identify outstanding needs in the amateur community which the National Virtual Observatory (NVO) project can fulfill. The AAVSO is a non-profit, independent organization dedicated to the study of vari- able stars. It was founded in 1911 and currently has a database of over 11 million vari- able star observations, the vast majority of which were made by amateur astronomers. The AAVSO has a rich history and extensive experience working with amateur astrono- mers and specifically in fostering amateur-professional collaboration. AAVSO Director Dr. Janet Mattei headed the team assembled by the AAVSO. -
Capital Expenditures Report FY 2016 to FY 2020
Strategic Planning and Funding Capital Expenditures Report FY 2016 to FY 2020 October 2015 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Vacant, CHAIR Robert “Bobby” Jenkins Jr., VICE CHAIR Austin David D. Teuscher, MD, SECRETARY TO THE BOARD Beaumont Dora G. Alcalá Del Rio S. Javaid Anwar Pakistan Christina Delgado, STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Lubbock Ambassador Sada Cumber Sugarland Fred Farias III, OD McAllen Janelle Shepard Weatherford John T. Steen Jr. San Antonio Raymund A. Paredes, COMMISSIONER OF HIGHER EDUCATION Agency Mission The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board promotes access, affordability, quality, success, and cost efficiency in the state’s institutions of higher education, through Closing the Gaps and its successor plan, resulting in a globally competent workforce that positions Texas as an international leader in an increasingly complex world economy. Agency Vision The THECB will be recognized as an international leader in developing and implementing innovative higher education policy to accomplish our mission. Agency Philosophy The THECB will promote access to and success in quality higher education across the state with the conviction that access and success without quality is mediocrity and that quality without access and success is unacceptable. The Coordinating Board’s core values are: Accountability: We hold ourselves responsible for our actions and welcome every opportunity to educate stakeholders about our policies, decisions, and aspirations. Efficiency: We accomplish our work using resources in the most effective manner. Collaboration: We develop partnerships that result in student success and a highly qualified, globally competent workforce. Excellence: We strive for preeminence in all our endeavors. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services. -
50 Years of Existence of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) 30 Years of Swiss Membership with the ESO
Federal Department for Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI 50 years of existence of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) 30 years of Swiss membership with the ESO The European Southern Observatory (ESO) was founded in Paris on 5 October 1962. Exactly half a century later, on 5 October 2012, Switzerland organised a com- memoration ceremony at the University of Bern to mark ESO’s 50 years of existence and 30 years of Swiss membership with the ESO. This article provides a brief summary of the history and milestones of Swiss member- ship with the ESO as well as an overview of the most important achievements and challenges. Switzerland’s route to ESO membership Nearly twenty years after the ESO was founded, the time was ripe for Switzerland to apply for membership with the ESO. The driving forces on the academic side included the Universi- ty of Geneva and the University of Basel, which wanted to gain access to the most advanced astronomical research available. In 1980, the Federal Council submitted its Dispatch on Swiss membership with the ESO to the Federal Assembly. In 1981, the Federal Assembly adopted a federal decree endorsing Swiss membership with the ESO. In 1982, the Swiss Confederation filed the official documents for ESO membership in Paris. In 1982, Switzerland paid the initial membership fee and, in 1983, the first year’s member- ship contributions. High points of Swiss participation In 1987, the Federal Council issued a federal decree on Swiss participation in the ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) to be built at the Paranal Observatory in the Chilean Atacama Desert. -
June 17, 1983
mm S THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM Meetin~ No. 793 May 11, 1983 Austin, Texas and Meeting No. 794 June 16-17, 1983 Dallas, Texas VOLUME XXX -E C O $ ili!i ~ i~ mm m am am mm ms ms mm mm am am am mm mm Meeting No. 794 THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNI'gERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM i/ / Pages 1 - 100 June 16-17, 1983 Dallas, Texas R annam am m nn an n an nn Meeting No. 794 THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM Pages 1 - i00 June 16-17, 1983 Dallas, Texas r I m m B mm i i E m I mm N TABLE OF CONTENTS THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM JUNE 16-17, 1983 DALLAS, TEXAS MEETING NO. 794 JUNE 16, 1983 I. Attendance II. Recess for Committee Meetings JUNE 17, 1983 I. Welcome and Report by Charles C. Sprague, M.D., President of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas 2 II. U.T. Board of Regents: Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting on April 14-15, and Special Meeting on May ii, 1983 2 2 III. Introduction of Faculty and Student Representatives 5 IV. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF STANDING COMMITTEES A. REPORT OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 5 PERMANENT UNIVERSITY FUND . Authorization to Employ the Firm of A. G. Becker, Inc., Houston, Texas, to Perform an Audit of Investment Performance and Appropriation Therefor (Exec. -
Dark Skies Initiative
Dark Skies Initiative McDonald Observatory FORT DAVIS, TEXAS Star trails over the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Photo: Ethan Tweedie LIGHT POLLUTION IS INCREASING IN THE HEART OF THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS OF Apache Corporation tank battery using the latest dark sky friendly LED lighting technology. Note the light sources WEST TEXAS. Located atop Mount themselves are shielded from view, reducing glare, while providing a well lit working area. No light shines directly into the sky. Locke and Mount Fowlkes and under some Photo: Bill Wren/McDonald Observatory of the darkest night skies in the continental In recent years, the increase of oil and Permian Basin Petroleum Association and United States, sits the 500-acre world gas activity in the Permian Basin has the Texas Oil & Gas Association to publish renowned University of Texas at Austin’s resulted in an increase of light pollution a “Recommended Lighting Practices” McDonald Observatory. The Observatory’s that threatens the dark skies. To measure guide and accompanying training video mission is to inform, educate, and inspire the increase in light pollution surrounding in partnership with Apache Corporation, through their public programs, and support the Observatory, all sky photometry data that oil and gas operators in the Permian the teaching of the science and hobby of is collected to determine the rate at which can utilize to properly implement dark skies astronomy. The second largest employer the night skies are brightening. To address friendly lighting practices. in Jeff Davis County, the Observatory light pollution coming from the Permian, hosts approximately 100,000 visitors each the Observatory has partnered with the Dark skies friendly lighting has been found year. -
Reciprocal Museum List
RECIPROCAL MUSEUM LIST DIA members at the Affiliate level and above receive reciprocal member benefits at more than 1,000 museums and cultural institutions in the U.S. and throughout North America, including free admission and member discounts. This list includes organizations affiliated with NARM (North American Reciprocal Museum) and ROAM (Reciprocal Organization of American Museums). Please note, some museums may restrict benefits. Please contact the institution for more information prior to your visit to avoid any confusion. UPDATED: 10/28/2020 DIA Reciprocal Museums updated 10/28/2020 State City Museum AK Anchorage Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center AK Haines Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center AK Homer Pratt Museum AK Kodiak Kodiak Historical Society & Baranov Museum AK Palmer Palmer Museum of History and Art AK Valdez Valdez Museum & Historical Archive AL Auburn Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art AL Birmingham Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA), UAB AL Birmingham Birmingham Civil Rights Institute AL Birmingham Birmingham Museum of Art AL Birmingham Vulcan Park and Museum AL Decatur Carnegie Visual Arts Center AL Huntsville The Huntsville Museum of Art AL Mobile Alabama Contemporary Art Center AL Mobile Mobile Museum of Art AL Montgomery Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts AL Northport Kentuck Museum AL Talladega Jemison Carnegie Heritage Hall Museum and Arts Center AR Bentonville Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art AR El Dorado South Arkansas Arts Center AR Fort Smith Fort Smith Regional Art Museum AR Little Rock -
Candace Leah Gray EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT
Candace Leah Gray 1258 Oneida Drive Las Cruces, NM 88005 915-861-4407 candaceg@nmsu edu EDUCATION New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM !" D in #s$ronom& 2010 – 2015 (hesis (i$)e* The Effect of Solar Flares, Coronal Mass Ejections, and Co-rotating Interaction Regions on Venus's 5577 ! "#$gen %reen &ine (hesis advisor* Dr Nancy Chanover University of Texas at Austin, #us$in, (+ ,(each pr%gram .or $eaching cer$i/ca$ion 2009 – 2010 M # in #s$ronom& 2006 – 2009 (hesis (i$)e* ' Chemical Sur)ey of 67 Comets Conducted at McDonald ",ser)ator$ (hesis advisor* Drs #ni$a Cochran and 0d1ard 2obinson University of Texas at E !aso, 0) !as%, (+ 4 5 in !"&sics 1i$h minor s$udies in Ma$hema$ics 2001 – 2006 (hesis (i$)e* Radio ",ser)ations of Magnetic Catacl$s(ic Variable Stars at the Very &arge 'rray (hesis advisor* Dr !au) Mason EM!LO"MENT A#ache !oint O$servatory% 5uns-%$, NM 2015 – !resen$ 5uppor$ #s$ronomer New Mexico State University% Las Cruces, NM 2esearch assis$ant in #s$ronom& 2010 – 2015 (eaching assis$ant in #s$ronom& 2010 – 2011 Austin Com&unity Col e'e, #us$in, (+ 6ns$ruc$or %. !"&sics and #s$ronomy 5ummer 2010 7untington (igh School, #us$in, (+ 6ns$ruc$or %. !"&sics 5pring 2010 CV Candace Gray 2 /7 University of Texas at Austin, #us$in, (+ !ain$er 7a)) (e)escope Opera$%r 2009 – 2010 2esearch assis$ant in #s$ronom& 2007 – 2009 (eaching assis$ant in #s$ronom& 2006 – 2007 University of Texas at E !aso, 0) !as%, (+ 2esearch assis$ant in #s$ronom& 2003 – 2005 (eaching assis$ant in !"&sics 5pring 2006 (eaching assis$ant in #s$ronom& 9a)) 2003 )ESEA)C( E*!ERIENCE :"i)e m& researc" remains )arge)& in $he /e)d %. -
THE ARECIBO OBSERVATORY PLANETARY RADAR SYSTEM. P. A. Taylor 1, M. C. Nolan2, E. G. Rivera-Valentın1, J. E. Richardson1, L. A
47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2016) 2534.pdf THE ARECIBO OBSERVATORY PLANETARY RADAR SYSTEM. P. A. Taylor1, M. C. Nolan2, E. G. Rivera-Valent´ın1, J. E. Richardson1, L. A. Rodriguez-Ford1, L. F. Zambrano-Marin1, E. S. Howell2, and J. T. Schmelz1; 1Arecibo Observatory, Universities Space Research Association, HC 3 Box 53995, Arecibo, PR 00612 ([email protected]); 2Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85721. Introduction: The William E. Gordon telescope at of Solar System objects at radio wavelengths. The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico is the largest and unmatched sensitivity of Arecibo allows for detection most sensitive single-dish radio telescope and the most of any potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA; absolute active and powerful planetary radar facility in the world. magnitude H < 22) that comes within ∼0.05 AU of Since opening in 1963, Arecibo has made significant Earth (∼20 lunar distances) and most any asteroid scientific contributions in the fields of planetary science, larger than ∼10 meters (H < 27) within ∼0.015 AU radio astronomy, and space and atmospheric sciences. (∼6 lunar distances) in the Arecibo declination window Arecibo is a facility of the National Science Founda- (0◦ to +38◦), as well as objects as far away as Saturn. tion (NSF) operated under cooperative agreement with In terms of near-Earth objects, Arecibo observations SRI International along with Universities Space Re- are critical for identifying those objects that may be on search Association and Universidad Metropolitana, part a collision course with Earth in addition to providing of the Ana G. -
Fall 2007 Issue of UT Law Magazine
FALL 2007 THE MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF UTLAW LAW 2007 CONTRIBUTORS’ REPORT Defending Habeas: the Nationalational Security and Human Rights CCliniclinic ggoesoes ttoo tthehe United States SuSupremepreme CCourtourt THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS LAW SCHOOL FOUNDATION, 727 E. DEAN KEETON STREET, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78705 UTLawCover1_FIN.indd 2 11/14/07 8:07:37 PM 22 UTLAW Fall 2007 UTLaw01_FINAL.indd 22 11/14/07 7:46:29 PM InCamera Immigration Clinic works for families detained in Taylor, Texas The T. Don Hutto Family Residential Facility in Taylor, Texas currently detains more than one hundred immigrant families at the behest of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The facility, a former medium security prison, is the subject of considerable controversy regarding the way detainees are treated. For the past year, UT Law’s Immigration Clinic has worked to improve the conditions at Hutto. In this photograph, (left to right) Farheen Jan,’08, Elise Harriger,’08, Immigration Clinic Director and Clinical Professor Barbara Hines, Matt Pizzo,’08, Clinic Administrator Eduardo A Maraboto, and Kate Lincoln-Goldfi nch, ’08, stand outside the Hutto facility. Full story on page 16. Photo: Christina S. Murrey FallFall 2007 2007 UT UTLAWLAW 23 1 UTLaw01_FINAL.indd 23 11/14/07 7:46:50 PM 6 16 10 4 Home to Texas 10 Legal Memory: 16 Litigation, Activism, In the Class of 2010—students who Learning the Law in and Advocacy: entered the Law School in fall 2007— thirty-eight percent are Texas residents 17th-Century Germany Immigration Clinic works who left the state for their undergradu- ate educations and then returned for One of the remarkable books in the for detained families law school. -
Keaton J. Bell Curriculum Vitae
Keaton J. Bell Curriculum Vitae E-mail: [email protected] Web: faculty.washington.edu/keatonb Citizenship: United States Research Interests Time domain astronomy; stellar astrophysics; exoplanets; asteroseismology; white dwarf stars Postdoctoral Research Positions University of Washington, Seattle, WA September 2019{present NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellow Data Intensive Research in Astrophysics and Cosmology (DIRAC) Fellow Max Planck Institute of Solar System Research, G¨ottingen,Germany August 2017{August 2019 Stellar Ages and Galactic Evolution (SAGE) Group (PI: Saskia Hekker) Education University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas July 2017 Ph.D., Astronomy Thesis Title: \Pulsational Oddities at the Extremes of the DA White Dwarf Instability Strip" Supervisors: D. E. Winget and M. H. Montgomery University of Washington, Seattle, Washington December 2010 B.S., Astronomy (with honors), Physics Research Adviser: Suzanne L. Hawley Awards and Honors NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship, $300,000 September 2019 Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Award, 230th AAS Meeting June 2017 Publication Summary Refereed Publications: 48 total; 8 first-author; h-index: 19 Observing Summary ARC 3.5m Telescope, Apache Point Observatory 2020{present Confirming Candidate Planet Transits of White Dwarfs from ZTF, 24 nights (PI) 2.1m Otto Struve Telescope, McDonald Observatory 2013{2017 Time Series Photometry of Variable White Dwarfs, 256 nights (PI) Recent Conferences and Workshops Zwicky Transient Facility Summer School