Félix Aguilar Observatory
Encyclopedia
Félix Aguilar Observatory is an astronomical
observatory
in Argentina
. It has IAU
observatory code 808, and was known as "El Leoncito Observatory" until 1990 (the 25th anniversary of the beginning of observations), when it became Estación Astronómica Carlos Ulrico Cesco (EACUC), in honour of Dr. Cesco's many contributions to the founding and operation of the Observatory. It is located at the El Leoncito National Park
(Parque Nacional El Leoncito), in the province
of San Juan. Also at El Leoncito is the Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO), IAU observatory code 829, established in 1983 by an agreement between several universities and the Argentine government, whose operations began in 1987.
The observatory is named after Félix Aguilar (1884–1943), an Argentine astronomer
and engineer
who was director of the La Plata Astronomical Observatory
from 1919 to 1921, and again from 1934 until his death.
The Minor Planet Center
has credited some asteroid
discoveries to Félix Aguilar Observatory.
in California to study the Northern Milky Way's structure by determining the accurate positions and apparent motions of stars. There was a need to extend that investigation to the Southern Hemisphere, and in 1960, Yale University
obtained initial funding of 750 k$ for the purpose of building a southern observatory for that purpose from the Ford Foundation
. Following a survey of potential sites, the observatory was built at El Leoncito, Argentina, near Barreal in the province of San Juan, in the eastern foothills of the Andes
mountains at an elevation of approximately 2400 m (8000 ft). The site was provided under a long-term lease by the University of Cuyo and the observatory was jointly operated by the University of Cuyo's Observatorio Astronómico "Félix Aguilar" (OAFA) in San Juan and the Yale-Columbia Southern Observatory, Inc (YCSO). A residence was constructed adjacent to the grounds of the OAFA in San Juan for the technical support and housing of the YCSO personnel while they were in San Juan.
The first survey of the Southern sky was made between the years 1965 and 1974, with the financial support of the National Science Foundation
(NSF). During that period, the US Naval Observatory (USNO) relocated a meridian circle telescope to El Leoncito to extend their catalogue of stellar positions to the Southern Hemisphere. The USNO returned that telescope to Washington following the completion of its project in 1974. At about the same time Columbia University
withdrew from the YCSO corporation it became the Yale Southern Observatory, Inc. on January 23, 1975.
About two years earlier, the University of Cuyo had split into several regionally based units. The one based in San Juan became known as the National University of San Juan
(UNSJ) and it assumed the administration of the OAFA and partnership with the YCSO and then the YSO. In 1990 the El Leoncito Observatory was renamed The Dr. Carlos U. Cesco Observatory on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the beginning of observations, in honour of Dr. Cesco's many contributions to the founding and operation of the Observatory.
During the period 1974-1983, El Leoncito was run by OAFA under terms of an agreement signed by the OAFA and the YSO. In 1983 a new ten-year agreement was negotiated that allowed the Southern Sky survey to be repeated, and this was again extended for another ten year period in 1993. Around 1987, Eastman Kodak
terminated the production of the photographic plates used in the survey after only one-third of the second epoch
photography had been completed; in 1997 a CCD
detector system was installed on the telescope to replace the photographic plates.
The principal telescope of the Cesco Observatory is a double astrograph consisting of two lenses each 20-inches (50.8 cm) in diameter, one designed for blue light and the other for yellow light. The lenses focus the light separately onto two photographic plates with dimensions of 17×17 inches (43×43 cm). The photographic plates are purchased in the U.S., shipped to Argentina, exposed in the telescope, developed, and then shipped back to the U.S. In New Haven, Connecticut
, the plates are measured with a precision measuring machine.
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. It has IAU
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
observatory code 808, and was known as "El Leoncito Observatory" until 1990 (the 25th anniversary of the beginning of observations), when it became Estación Astronómica Carlos Ulrico Cesco (EACUC), in honour of Dr. Cesco's many contributions to the founding and operation of the Observatory. It is located at the El Leoncito National Park
El Leoncito National Park
The El Leoncito National Park is a national park of Argentina, located at the Calingasta Department, in the southwest of the province of San Juan. It has an area of 760 km²...
(Parque Nacional El Leoncito), in the province
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
of San Juan. Also at El Leoncito is the Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO), IAU observatory code 829, established in 1983 by an agreement between several universities and the Argentine government, whose operations began in 1987.
The observatory is named after Félix Aguilar (1884–1943), an Argentine astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
and engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
who was director of the La Plata Astronomical Observatory
La Plata Astronomical Observatory
The La Plata Astronomical Observatory is an observatory located in the city of La Plata, capital of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Its IAU code is 839....
from 1919 to 1921, and again from 1934 until his death.
The Minor Planet Center
Minor Planet Center
The Minor Planet Center operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory , which is part of the Center for Astrophysics along with the Harvard College Observatory ....
has credited some 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...
discoveries to Félix Aguilar Observatory.
History
In 1947, research had been started at the Lick ObservatoryLick Observatory
The Lick Observatory is an astronomical observatory, owned and operated by the University of California. It is situated on the summit of Mount Hamilton, in the Diablo Range just east of San Jose, California, USA...
in California to study the Northern Milky Way's structure by determining the accurate positions and apparent motions of stars. There was a need to extend that investigation to the Southern Hemisphere, and in 1960, Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
obtained initial funding of 750 k$ for the purpose of building a southern observatory for that purpose from the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
. Following a survey of potential sites, the observatory was built at El Leoncito, Argentina, near Barreal in the province of San Juan, in the eastern foothills of the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
mountains at an elevation of approximately 2400 m (8000 ft). The site was provided under a long-term lease by the University of Cuyo and the observatory was jointly operated by the University of Cuyo's Observatorio Astronómico "Félix Aguilar" (OAFA) in San Juan and the Yale-Columbia Southern Observatory, Inc (YCSO). A residence was constructed adjacent to the grounds of the OAFA in San Juan for the technical support and housing of the YCSO personnel while they were in San Juan.
The first survey of the Southern sky was made between the years 1965 and 1974, with the financial support of the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
(NSF). During that period, the US Naval Observatory (USNO) relocated a meridian circle telescope to El Leoncito to extend their catalogue of stellar positions to the Southern Hemisphere. The USNO returned that telescope to Washington following the completion of its project in 1974. At about the same time Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
withdrew from the YCSO corporation it became the Yale Southern Observatory, Inc. on January 23, 1975.
About two years earlier, the University of Cuyo had split into several regionally based units. The one based in San Juan became known as the National University of San Juan
National University of San Juan
The National University of San Juan is a public university in Argentina. Its seat is located in the city of San Juan, capital of the province of the same name, in the Cuyo region...
(UNSJ) and it assumed the administration of the OAFA and partnership with the YCSO and then the YSO. In 1990 the El Leoncito Observatory was renamed The Dr. Carlos U. Cesco Observatory on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the beginning of observations, in honour of Dr. Cesco's many contributions to the founding and operation of the Observatory.
During the period 1974-1983, El Leoncito was run by OAFA under terms of an agreement signed by the OAFA and the YSO. In 1983 a new ten-year agreement was negotiated that allowed the Southern Sky survey to be repeated, and this was again extended for another ten year period in 1993. Around 1987, Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
terminated the production of the photographic plates used in the survey after only one-third of the second epoch
Epoch (reference date)
In the fields of chronology and periodization, an epoch is an instance in time chosen as the origin of a particular era. The "epoch" then serves as a reference point from which time is measured...
photography had been completed; in 1997 a CCD
Charge-coupled device
A charge-coupled device is a device for the movement of electrical charge, usually from within the device to an area where the charge can be manipulated, for example conversion into a digital value. This is achieved by "shifting" the signals between stages within the device one at a time...
detector system was installed on the telescope to replace the photographic plates.
The principal telescope of the Cesco Observatory is a double astrograph consisting of two lenses each 20-inches (50.8 cm) in diameter, one designed for blue light and the other for yellow light. The lenses focus the light separately onto two photographic plates with dimensions of 17×17 inches (43×43 cm). The photographic plates are purchased in the U.S., shipped to Argentina, exposed in the telescope, developed, and then shipped back to the U.S. In New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, the plates are measured with a precision measuring machine.