Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing observatory
Encyclopedia
| Asteroid Asteroid Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones... s discovered: 58 |
|
|---|---|
| 8721 AMOS 8721 AMOS 8721 AMOS is an outer main-belt asteroid discovered on January 14, 1996 by AMOS at Haleakala.- External links :*... |
January 14, 1996 |
| 9651 Arii-SooHoo 9651 Arii-SooHoo 9651 Arii-SooHoo is a main belt asteroid with an orbital period of 1400.6431053 days .The asteroid was discovered on January 7, 1996.-References:... |
January 7, 1996 |
| 10193 Nishimoto 10193 Nishimoto 10193 Nishimoto is a main-belt asteroid discovered on August 8, 1996 by AMOS at Haleakala.... |
August 8, 1996 |
| 10863 Oye 10863 Oye 10863 Oye is a main-belt asteroid discovered on August 31, 1995 by the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing observatory at Haleakala. The asteroid was named for the grandparents of the observatory's technical director, Jacob and Martha Oye.... |
August 31, 1995 |
| 11104 Airion 11104 Airion 11104 Airion is a main belt asteroid discovered on October 6, 1995 by the AMOS team at the Air Force observatory on Haleakala, Maui.- External links :*... |
October 6, 1995 |
| 12426 Racquetball 12426 Racquetball 12426 Racquetball is a main-belt asteroid discovered on November 14, 1995 by the AMOS team at Haleakala.- External links :*... |
November 14, 1995 |
| 12443 Paulsydney 12443 Paulsydney 12443 Paulsydney is a main-belt asteroid discovered on March 15, 1996 by the AMOS team at Haleakala.- External links :*... |
March 15, 1996 |
| 13168 Danoconnell 13168 Danoconnell 13168 Danoconnell is a main-belt asteroid discovered on December 6, 1995 by AMOS at Haleakala.- External links :*... |
December 6, 1995 |
| March 20, 1996 | |
| 14942 Stevebaker 14942 Stevebaker 14942 Stevebaker is a main-belt asteroid discovered on June 21, 1995 by AMOS at Haleakala.- External links :*... |
June 21, 1995 |
| December 28, 1995 | |
| January 14, 1996 | |
| (20128) 1996 AK | January 7, 1996 |
| December 14, 1995 | |
| April 15, 1996 | |
| 27870 Jillwatson 27870 Jillwatson 27870 Jillwatson is a main belt asteroid with an orbital period of 1337.6310428 days . The asteroid was discovered on November 12, 1995.... |
November 12, 1995 |
| July 23, 1996 | |
| August 5, 1996 | |
| 31000 Rockchic 31000 Rockchic 31000 Rockchic is a main belt asteroid with an orbital period of 1900.5370812 days . The asteroid was discovered on November 11, 1995.... |
November 11, 1995 |
| 31020 Skarupa 31020 Skarupa 31020 Skarupa is an outer main-belt asteroid discovered on March 17, 1996 by AMOS at Haleakala.- External links :*... |
March 17, 1996 |
| 32943 Sandyryan 32943 Sandyryan 32943 Sandyryan is a main-belt asteroid discovered on November 13, 1995 by AMOS at Haleakala.- External links :*... |
November 13, 1995 |
| January 14, 1996 | |
| 37692 Loribragg 37692 Loribragg 37692 Loribragg is a main-belt asteroid discovered on November 12, 1995 by AMOS at Haleakala.- External links :*... |
November 12, 1995 |
| January 10, 1996 | |
| (39671) 1996 AG | January 7, 1996 |
| March 11, 1996 | |
| August 14, 1997 | |
| 48628 Janetfender 48628 Janetfender 48628 Janetfender is a main-belt asteroid discovered on September 7, 1995 by AMOS at Haleakala.- External links :*... |
September 7, 1995 |
| July 26, 1996 | |
| March 23, 1996 | |
| (52525) 1996 PJ | August 8, 1996 |
| October 7, 1996 | |
| 58365 Robmedrano 58365 Robmedrano 58365 Robmedrano is a main-belt asteroid discovered on July 27, 1995 by AMOS at Haleakala.- External links :*... |
July 27, 1995 |
| September 11, 1997 | |
| October 27, 1997 | |
| March 22, 1996 | |
| 85386 Payton 85386 Payton 85386 Payton is a main-belt minor planet. It was discovered at the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing observatory near Haleakalā on the Hawaiian island of Maui on July 26, 1996. It is named after American football player Walter Payton.-External links:... |
July 26, 1996 |
| 90817 Doylehall 90817 Doylehall 90817 Doylehall is a main-belt asteroid discovered on September 1, 1995 by AMOS at Haleakala.- External links :*... |
September 1, 1995 |
| 90818 Daverichards 90818 Daverichards 90818 Daverichards is a main-belt minor planet. It was discovered at the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing observatory near Haleakalā on the Hawaiian island of Maui on September 14, 1995. It is named after Dave Richards, a former commander of the AMOS program.-External links:... |
September 14, 1995 |
| 90820 McCann 90820 McCann 90820 McCann is a main-belt asteroid discovered on September 20, 1995 by AMOS at Haleakala.- External links :*... |
September 20, 1995 |
| March 16, 1996 | |
| March 23, 1996 | |
| (100425) 1996 HM | April 17, 1996 |
| March 11, 1996 | |
| September 28, 1997 | |
| September 28, 1997 | |
| October 2, 1997 | |
| March 20, 1996 | |
| November 20, 1995 | |
| April 22, 1996 | |
| February 29, 1996 | |
| October 20, 1995 | |
| (185670) 1995 RS | September 14, 1995 |
| August 31, 1995 | |
| April 20, 1996 | |
| August 14, 1996 | |
| November 19, 1995 | |
| (225308) 1996 HH | April 17, 1996 |
The Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing (AMOS) observatory is an Air Force Research Laboratory
Air Force Research Laboratory
The Air Force Research Laboratory is a scientific research organization operated by the United States Air Force Materiel Command dedicated to leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable aerospace warfighting technologies; planning and executing the Air Force science and...
(AFRL) operating location on Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
with a twofold mission. First, it conducts the research and development mission on the Maui Space Surveillance System (MSSS) at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex (MSSC). Second, it oversees operation of the Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC). AFRL's research and development mission on Maui was formally called AMOS; the use of the term AMOS has been widespread throughout the technical community for over thirty years and is still used today at many technical conferences.
Maui Space Surveillance System (MSSS)
The accessibility and capability of the Maui Space Surveillance System provides an unequaled opportunity to the scientific community by combining state-of-the-art satelliteSatellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
tracking with a facility supporting research and development.
The Maui Space Surveillance System, is routinely involved in numerous observing programs and has the capability of projecting laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
s into the atmosphere
Earth's atmosphere
The atmosphere of Earth is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth that is retained by Earth's gravity. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation, warming the surface through heat retention , and reducing temperature extremes between day and night...
.
Virtually year-round viewing conditions are possible due to the relatively stable climate. Dry, clean air and minimal scattered light from surface sources enable visibility exceeding 150 km. Based on double star observations, seeing is typically on the order of one second of arc.
Situated at the crest of the dormant volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
Haleakala
Haleakala
Haleakalā , or the East Maui Volcano, is a massive shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. The western 25% of the island is formed by the West Maui Mountains.- History :...
(IAU code 608), the observatory stands at an altitude of 3058 metres, latitude 20.7 degrees N, and longitude 156.3 degrees W. It is essentially co-located with IAU code 566, Haleakala-NEAT
Near Earth Asteroid Tracking
Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking is a program run by NASA and Jet Propulsion Laboratory to discover near-Earth objects. The NEAT project began in December 1995 and ran until April 2007.-History:...
/GEODSS.
In the process of accomplishing its mission, the observatory has discovered a number of asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
s.
Optical Assets
Spanning over 30 years, the evolution of the Maui Space Surveillance System has demonstrated several stages in the history of space object tracking telescopeTelescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
s. Currently, through its primary mission for Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations....
, the Maui Space Surveillance System combines large-aperture tracking optics with visible and infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
sensors to collect data on near Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
and deep-space objects.
The 3.67-meter telescope, known as the Advanced Electro-Optical System
3.67 m Advanced Electro Optical System Telescope
The 3.67 m Advanced Electro Optical System Telescope is a Department of Defense telescope at Haleakala Observatory.The 3.67-meter telescope, known as the Advanced Electro-Optical System , owned by the Department of Defense, is the United States' largest optical telescope designed for tracking...
(AEOS), owned by the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, is the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' largest optical telescope designed for tracking satellites. The 75-ton AEOS telescope points and tracks very accurately, yet is fast enough to track both low-Earth satellites and ballistic missile
Ballistic missile
A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flightpath with the objective of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during the relatively brief initial powered phase of flight and its course is subsequently governed by the...
s. AEOS can be used simultaneously by many groups or institutions because its light can be channeled through a series of mirrors to seven independent coudé rooms below the telescope. Employing sophisticated sensors that include an adaptive optics system, radiometer
Radiometer
A radiometer is a device for measuring the radiant flux of electromagnetic radiation. Generally, the term radiometer denotes an infrared radiation detector, yet it also includes detectors operating on any electromagnetic wavelength....
, spectrograph
Spectrograph
A spectrograph is an instrument that separates an incoming wave into a frequency spectrum. There are several kinds of machines referred to as spectrographs, depending on the precise nature of the waves...
, and long-wave infrared imager, the telescope tracks man-made objects in deep space and performs space object identification data collection.
AEOS is equipped with an adaptive optics system, the heart of which is a 941-actuator deformable mirror that can change its shape to remove the atmosphere's distorting effects. Scientists are expected to get near diffraction-limited images of space objects.
Other equipment at MSSS includes a 1.6-meter telescope, two 1.2-meter telescopes on a common mount, a 0.8-meter beam director/tracker, and a 0.6-meter laser beam director. The telescopes accommodate a wide variety of sensor systems, including imaging systems, conventional and contrast mode photometer
Photometer
In its widest sense, a photometer is an instrument for measuring light intensity or optical properties of solutions or surfaces. Photometers are used to measure:*Illuminance*Irradiance*Light absorption*Scattering of light*Reflection of light*Fluorescence...
s, infrared radiometers, low light level video systems, and acquisition telescopes.
In addition to these assets, the site has a machine shop, optics laboratories, and electronics laboratories. A Remote Maui Experimental (RME) site at sea level houses additional optics and electronics laboratories. This secondary observation station at Kihei bears IAU code 625 and is located at 20°44′46"N 156°25′54"W.
Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC)
The Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC) is an Air Force Research LaboratoryAir Force Research Laboratory
The Air Force Research Laboratory is a scientific research organization operated by the United States Air Force Materiel Command dedicated to leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable aerospace warfighting technologies; planning and executing the Air Force science and...
center currently managed by the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
and is located in the Maui Research and Technology Park in Kihei
Kihei, Hawaii
Kīhei is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 16,749 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kīhei is located at ....
. The MHPCC is a leading computing resource of the Department of Defense research and development community and operates numerous computer clusters, including a 5,120 processor Dell Poweredge cluster named "Jaws" which, as of November 2006, was the 11th most powerful computing systems in the world.
Chartered to sustain a broad base of users in the Department of Defense, government, academic, and commercial communities, MHPCC provides access to parallel computing hardware, advanced software tools and applications, high bandwidth communications, and high performance storage technologies. In addition, MHPCC offers a variety of services from its expert staff, including application support, parallel code development, large system management, and training and education programs.