Lulin Observatory
Encyclopedia
Lulin Observatory is an astronomical
observatory
operated by the Institute of Astronomy, National Central University
in Taiwan
.
It is located at the summit of Mount Lulin, on the border of Chiayi County
and Nantou County
, near Yushan National Park
. In 2007, Comet Lulin
(C/2007 N3), which will come nearest the Earth on 24 February 2009, was found by this observatory.
The Lulin 1 meter had its first light in September 2002, after 10 years of development.
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...
operated by the Institute of Astronomy, National Central University
National Central University
National Central University is a national comprehensive university in Taiwan .National Central University was founded in 1915 and originated in 258 CE at Nanjing, China. After NCU in Nanjing was renamed Nanjing University in 1949, NCU was re-established in Taiwan in 1962...
in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
It is located at the summit of Mount Lulin, on the border of Chiayi County
Chiayi County
Chiayi County is a county in southwestern Taiwan surrounding but not including Chiayi City. Its historical name in Taiwanese Hokkien derives from Tsirosen in the Formosan languages...
and Nantou County
Nantou County
Nantou County is the second largest county of Taiwan. It is also the only landlocked county in Taiwan. Its name derives from the Hoanya Taiwanese aboriginal word Ramtau. Nantou County is officially administered as a county of Taiwan....
, near Yushan National Park
Yushan National Park
Yushan National Park is one of the seven national parks in Taiwan and was named after the summit Yushan, the highest peak of the park. The Park covers a total of 105,490 hectares including large sections of the Central Mountain Range. The Park contains over thirty peaks more than 3,000 meters in...
. In 2007, Comet Lulin
Comet Lulin
Comet Lulin is a non-periodic comet. It was discovered by Ye Quanzhi and Lin Chi-Sheng from Lulin Observatory. It peaked in brightness and arrived at perigee for observers on Earth on February 24, 2009, at magnitude +5, and at 0.411 AU from Earth...
(C/2007 N3), which will come nearest the Earth on 24 February 2009, was found by this observatory.
The Lulin 1 meter had its first light in September 2002, after 10 years of development.
Telescopes
- LOT Cassegrain telescope (D=1-m, f/8)
- SLT R-C telescope (D=0.40-m, f/8.8) by RC Optical SystemsRC Optical SystemsRC Optical Systems is a high-end American telescope and optics manufacturer that specializes in Ritchey-Chrétien telescopes with hyperbolic mirrors. RC also makes related mounts and systems for the telescopes, with a focus on open and closed carbon fiber trusses for low expansion...
or 76-cm Super Light Telescope (SLT) - Four TAOS robotic telescopes (D=0.50-m, f/1.9)
Projects
- Taiwan-America Occultation Survey (TAOS)
- Lulin Emission Line Imaging Survey (LELIS)
- LUlin Sky Survey (LUSS)