Table Mountain Observatory
![]() Aerial view of TMO | |
Organization | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
---|---|
Observatory code | 673 ![]() |
Location | Wrightwood, California |
Coordinates | 34°24′N 117°42′W / 34.4°N 117.7°W |
Altitude | 7,500 feet |
Established | 1968 ![]() |
Website | http://tmoa.jpl.nasa.gov/ |
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Table Mountain Observatory (TMO) is an astronomical observation facility operated by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (California Institute of Technology). It is located in Angeles National Forest near Wrightwood, California at an altitude of 7,500 feet.[1]
TMO conducts high precision astrometric observations to support NASA and international spacecraft mission navigation, and confirmation and recovery of Near-Earth objects such as comets and asteroids that may potentially impact the Earth.
The observatory is equipped with 0.6m and 0.4m astronomical telescopes which use CCD cameras for imaging, photometry, and astrometric studies.
TMO is part of the Table Mountain Facility, located about 75 miles from JPL and 4 miles northwest of Wrightwood.
Instruments
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Table_Mountain_Observatory_control_room1.jpg/250px-Table_Mountain_Observatory_control_room1.jpg)
- 0.6m Telescope
- 1K CCD Nitrogen Cooled Camera (Primary)
- 1k CCD Nitrogen Cooled Camera (Secondary)
- 2K Camera
- 4K CCD Nitrogen Cooled Camera (Precision Astrometry)
- 0.4m Telescope
- 1K Apogee Camera
- 2K Apogee Camera
Objects discovered or confirmed
MPC designation | Alternate name | MPC designation | Alternate name | MPC designation | Alternate name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
90525 | Karijanberg | 115485 | 2003 UR19 | 116446 | 2004 AG |
116903 | 2004 GW | 128621 | 2004 RD | 129066 | 2004 VY28 |
134010 | 2004 VW28 | 143052 | 2002 WY2 | 145166 | 2005 JL |
147735 | 2005 NE | 147799 | 2005 RA34 | 149450 | 2003 CE14 |
149976 | 2005 UO6 | 150035 | Williamson | 152212 | 2005 RG |
152471 | 2005 WE1 | 158621 | 2003 BJ | 158899 | 2004 QO |
161384 | 2003 UK25 | 163626 | Glatfelter | 163950 | 2003 UN22 |
166609 | 2002 RF232 | 170025 | 2002 VO | 170026 | 2002 VV2 |
170027 | 2002 VH5 | 171287 | 2006 GK3 | 172460 | 2003 RT11 |
172533 | 2003 UO9 | 172627 | 2003 XP10 | 173075 | 2006 UC |
174758 | 2003 VX2 | 177065 | 2003 FP7 | 177245 | 2003 WB |
177625 | 2004 JD | 180103 | 2003 FX6 | 180213 | 2003 UM8 |
180216 | 2003 UY9 | 180537 | 2004 EB1 | 180731 | 2004 JW35 |
181492 | 2006 UU1 | 183309 | 2002 VQ | 183501 | 2003 FU4 |
184064 | 2004 GM | 185641 | 2008 EH69 | 186728 | 2004 CH2 |
187304 | 2005 UV | 188588 | 2005 NP29 | 188721 | 2005 UU |
189944 | 2003 TX | 190118 | 2004 VR60 | 115312 | Whither |
115477 | Brantanica | 115891 | Scottmichael | 120038 | Franlainsher |
120174 | Jeffjenny | 128297 | Ashlevi | 133280 | Bryleen |
133527 | Fredearly | 142084 | Jamesdaniel | 144692 | Katemary |
147397 | Bobhazel | 191323 | 2003 KN | 191485 | 2003 TO2 |
84882 | Table Mountain | 114239 | Bermarmi | 78577 | JPL |
95939 | Thagnesland |
See also
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/40px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Space observatory
- Fundamental station
- Timeline of telescopes, observatories, and observing technology
- List of astronomical observatories
- List of observatory codes
References
External links
- TMO website
- Table Mountain Facility website
- Photographic history of the facility
- Coordinates and satellite images of astronomical observatories on Earth
- Earth-based Observatories Profile by NASA's Solar System Exploration
- Milkyweb Astronomical Observatory Guide world's largest database of astronomical observatories since 2001 - about 2000 entries
- Map: Planetaria and Observatories
- List of amateur and professional observatories in North America with custom weather forecasts
- Table Mountain