Moore Observatory
Encyclopedia
Moore Observatory is an astronomical
observatory
owned and operated by University of Louisville
. Dedicated in 1978, it is located on the Horner Wildlife Refuge in Oldham County
, Kentucky
(USA).
The observatory is named for Walter Lee Moore, Professor of Mathematics at UofL from 1929 to 1967. Dedication ceremonies were held on November 8, 1978 with introductions by Dr. John A. Dillon
, then Vice President for Academic Affairs at UofL. The Moore Telescope dedication was made by Dr. John F. Kielkopf, who is the observatory's director.
A Wide Field Spectral Imager is also used for graduate student research work on the dust content of galactic nebulae, and occasionally for bright comet spectroscopy.
The 20-inch Corrected Dall-Kirkham telescopes at Moore Observatory and at Mount Kent are collaboratively operated by the University of Louisville and the University of Southern Queensland. They are primarily used for education, public astronomy outreach, and target of opportunity research. These telescopes are interfaced to Internet2, and are operated remotely by students from Kentucky schools, undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Louisville, and students of the University of Southern Queensland. This allows Kentucky students and UofL students to study the southern night sky during the day and the Australian students to study the northern night sky during their day.
A 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain is available for hands-on CCD (charge coupled device) imaging and photometry by interested students, trained visitors, and guests.
Other facilities are also available on Belknap Campus.
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...
owned and operated by University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
. Dedicated in 1978, it is located on the Horner Wildlife Refuge in Oldham County
Oldham County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,178 people, 14,856 households, and 12,196 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 15,541 housing units at an average density of...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
(USA).
History
Moore Observatory is located on the 200 acre (0.8 km²) Horner Wildlife Refuge in Oldham County, Kentucky. The Horner Family donated this land to the University of Louisville in the early 1960s. Another 1000 acres (4 km²) of the original farm surrounds the preserve.The observatory is named for Walter Lee Moore, Professor of Mathematics at UofL from 1929 to 1967. Dedication ceremonies were held on November 8, 1978 with introductions by Dr. John A. Dillon
John A. Dillon
John Andrew Dillon, Jr. was an American physicist, administrator, Professor at the University of Louisville, and founder and first director of the Systems Science Institute at the University of Louisville.- Biography :...
, then Vice President for Academic Affairs at UofL. The Moore Telescope dedication was made by Dr. John F. Kielkopf, who is the observatory's director.
Observing
Moore Observatory is a research and advanced teaching facility of the University of Louisville. The observatory operates four instruments at its Brownsboro site, and a companion telescope at Mount Kent near Toowoomba, Australia.Telescopes
The 24-inch Ritchie Chretien telescope is a research instrument used by faculty and graduate students involved in studies of the optical properties of the atmosphere in the near infrared, and the development of imaging and spectroscopic technology.A Wide Field Spectral Imager is also used for graduate student research work on the dust content of galactic nebulae, and occasionally for bright comet spectroscopy.
The 20-inch Corrected Dall-Kirkham telescopes at Moore Observatory and at Mount Kent are collaboratively operated by the University of Louisville and the University of Southern Queensland. They are primarily used for education, public astronomy outreach, and target of opportunity research. These telescopes are interfaced to Internet2, and are operated remotely by students from Kentucky schools, undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Louisville, and students of the University of Southern Queensland. This allows Kentucky students and UofL students to study the southern night sky during the day and the Australian students to study the northern night sky during their day.
A 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain is available for hands-on CCD (charge coupled device) imaging and photometry by interested students, trained visitors, and guests.
Other facilities are also available on Belknap Campus.
Clear Sky Clock
Clear Sky Clocks are astronomy-specific weather forecasts for specific observing locations, including Moore Observatory. They are graphic images that schematically represent astronomical observing conditions, for each hour during the next 48 hours. The clear sky clock for Moore Observatory is linked in the "external links" section below.External links
- Moore Observatory Clear Sky Clock Forecasts of observing conditions.