National Astronomical Observatory (Mexico)
| National Astronomical Observatory (Mexico) | |||||||||
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 Dome of the 2.1 m telescope on San Pedro Mártir |
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| Organization | National Autonomous University of Mexico | ||||||||
| Location | Sierra San Pedro Mártir | ||||||||
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Coordinates
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| Altitude | 2,800 meters (9,200 ft) | ||||||||
| Established | 1878 | ||||||||
| Website OAN SPM |
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Mexico's National Astronomical Observatory (Spanish: El Observatorio Astronómico Nacional - OAN) was first established on the balcony of Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City in 1878. It was later moved to Tacubaya, then on the outskirts of the city, a location remembered in the Observatorio station of the Mexico City Metro, situated nearby. In the middle of the 20th century, OAN was moved from the increasingly crowded and polluted Valley of Mexico to Tonantzintla, Puebla. Excessive lighting and pollution forced another move to the Sierra San Pedro Mártir in Baja California in 1967.[1] The current site has been found to have excellent astronomical seeing.[2] The observatory has been operated by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) since 1929.[3]
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[edit] Telescopes
There are three optical telescopes on the summit of Sierra San Pedro Mártir, all with a Ritchey-Chrétien design:
- The 2.12 m (83 in) telescope was built between 1974 and 1979 and is tied as Mexico's largest optical telescope. It has secondary mirrors of f/7.5, f/13.5 or f/30. Direct imaging and optical spectroscopy are performed with a number of different charge-couple devices and spectrographs.[4]
- The 1.52 m (60 in) telescope was built by the University of Arizona (UA) Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL). It was installed in 1970 with the assistance of LPL.[5] Direct imaging, optical spectroscopy, and photometry are done with a f/13.5 secondary mirror.[6]
- The 0.84 m (33 in) telescope was loaned to UNAM by UA in the late 1960s and was the first to be installed at the site.[7] Direct imaging, optical spectroscopy, and photometry are done with a f/15 secondary mirror.[8]
[edit] Gallery
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2.12m telescope building
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1.5m telescope building
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0.84m telescope building
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ López, J. A.; Gutiérrez, L. (09 2003). "A primer for the San Pedro Mártir Observatory". Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica (Serie de Conferencias) 19: 3-7. Bibcode 2003RMxAC..19....3L.
- ^ Bohigas, J.; Nuñez, J. M.; Guillén, P. F.; Lazo, F.; Hiriart, D.; Calvario, T.; Escoboza, O.; Valdez, J.; Córdova, A.; Sohn, E. (04 2008). "Site Prospection at San Pedro Mártir". Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica: 231-242. Bibcode 2008RMxAA..44..231B.
- ^ "Página del Observatorio Astronómico Nacional". Instituto de Astronomía de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. http://www.astrossp.unam.mx/indexspm.html. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
- ^ "Telescopios de 2.1 metros". Instituto de Astronomía de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. http://www.astrossp.unam.mx/~sectec/web/telescopios/2mt.html. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
- ^ Kuiper, Gerard P. (1972-12-31). "NO. 172 THE LUNAR AND PLANETARY LABORATORY AND ITS TELESCOPES". Unversity of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/sic/journal/pdfs/172_Kuiper_CommLPL_1972.pdf. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ^ "Telescopios de 1.5 metros". Instituto de Astronomía de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. http://www.astrossp.unam.mx/~sectec/web/telescopios/150cm.html. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
- ^ Wehinger, P. (06 2007). "El Observatorio de San Pedro Mártir: A World-Class Site for Large Telescopes". Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica (Serie de Conferencias). 1-8 28. Bibcode 2007RMxAC..28....1W.
- ^ "Telescopios de 84 cm". Instituto de Astronomía de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. http://www.astrossp.unam.mx/~sectec/web/telescopios/84cm.html. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
[edit] External links
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