Pine Mountain Observatory
Encyclopedia
Pine Mountain Observatory is an astronomical
observatory
owned and operated by University of Oregon
Physics Department.
It is located 26 miles (41.8 km) Southeast of Bend
, Oregon
(USA) at an elevation of 6500 feet (1,981.2 m).
The site was discovered by professors Russ Donnelly and E.G. Ebbinghausen in 1965
and has been in operation since 1967.
There are four Cassegrain telescopes
with apertures of 10, 15, 24 and 32 inches (812.8 mm). The 10, 15 and 24 inches (609.6 mm) telescopes can be used for direct optical observation. The 32 inches (812.8 mm) telescope
has a 1024 x 1024 pixel
thinned, rear illuminated, blue-sensitive CCD
camera with a field size of approximately 36 arcminutes
mounted at the prime focus which prevents direct observations.
Pine Mountain Observatory is particularly notable for its public education initiatives, being one of the few professional observatories that routinely invites the public to participate in night tours and observing sessions . The observatory also hosts amateur star parties
with the stated objective of directly involving more people in astronomy.
As well as public education, the observatory has hosted a number of significant projects including groundbreaking research
on White dwarf
stars.
As of July 2007, a project is underway, in collaboration with Portland State University
, to replace the historical 15" telescope with a remotely controlled 14 inches (355.6 mm) telescope for astronomical imaging.
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 Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
Physics Department.
It is located 26 miles (41.8 km) Southeast of Bend
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
(USA) at an elevation of 6500 feet (1,981.2 m).
The site was discovered by professors Russ Donnelly and E.G. Ebbinghausen in 1965
and has been in operation since 1967.
There are four Cassegrain telescopes
Cassegrain reflector
The Cassegrain reflector is a combination of a primary concave mirror and a secondary convex mirror, often used in optical telescopes and radio antennas....
with apertures of 10, 15, 24 and 32 inches (812.8 mm). The 10, 15 and 24 inches (609.6 mm) telescopes can be used for direct optical observation. The 32 inches (812.8 mm) telescope
Telescope
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...
has a 1024 x 1024 pixel
Pixel
In digital imaging, a pixel, or pel, is a single point in a raster image, or the smallest addressable screen element in a display device; it is the smallest unit of picture that can be represented or controlled....
thinned, rear illuminated, blue-sensitive 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...
camera with a field size of approximately 36 arcminutes
Minute of arc
A minute of arc, arcminute, or minute of angle , is a unit of angular measurement equal to one sixtieth of one degree. In turn, a second of arc or arcsecond is one sixtieth of one minute of arc....
mounted at the prime focus which prevents direct observations.
Pine Mountain Observatory is particularly notable for its public education initiatives, being one of the few professional observatories that routinely invites the public to participate in night tours and observing sessions . The observatory also hosts amateur star parties
Star party
A star party is a gathering of amateur astronomers for the purpose of observing the sky. Local star parties may be one night affairs, but larger events can last up to a week or longer and attract hundreds or even thousands of participants. Many regional star parties are now held annually and are an...
with the stated objective of directly involving more people in astronomy.
As well as public education, the observatory has hosted a number of significant projects including groundbreaking research
on White dwarf
White dwarf
A white dwarf, also called a degenerate dwarf, is a small star composed mostly of electron-degenerate matter. They are very dense; a white dwarf's mass is comparable to that of the Sun and its volume is comparable to that of the Earth. Its faint luminosity comes from the emission of stored...
stars.
As of July 2007, a project is underway, in collaboration with Portland State University
Portland State University
Portland State University is a public state urban university located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1946, it has the largest overall enrollment of any university in the state of Oregon, including undergraduate and graduate students. It is also the only public university in...
, to replace the historical 15" telescope with a remotely controlled 14 inches (355.6 mm) telescope for astronomical imaging.
External links
- Pine Mountain Observatory Clear Sky Clock Forecast of observing conditions.
- Friends of Pine Mountain Observatory Volunteer group responsible for public viewing, tours, and educational outreach program.