SFA Observatory

The SFA Observatory (SFA) is an astronomical observatory located 17 km (11 mi) north of Nacogdoches, Texas (USA). The observatory is owned and operated by Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU), and opened in 1976. It is used for undergraduate instruction and for graduate-level research.

SFA Observatory
OrganizationStephen F. Austin State University
Observatory code 740 Edit this on Wikidata
LocationNacogdoches, Texas
Coordinates31.7599°N 94.6610°W / 31.7599; -94.6610
Altitude148 meters (486 ft)
Established1976 (1976)
WebsiteSFA Observatory
Telescopes
41" Telescope1.04 m reflector
18" Telescope0.46 m reflector
SFAVSAradio array
SFA Observatory is located in the United States
SFA Observatory
Location of SFA Observatory

Telescopes

  • A 1.04 m (41 in) reflecting telescope built at SFAU based on the design of a telescope at Lick Observatory began operating in 1984. The primary mirror and three secondary mirrors were fabricated in the early 1960s for an unfinished telescope for the University of Texas–Pan American.[1] It is used primarily for photoelectric photometry.
  • A 0.46 m (18 in) Ritchey–Chrétien reflector has been in operation at SFASU since 1976, but was originally located on Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands where it was used by NASA to study the Moon for the Apollo program.[2] It is used primarily for photoelectric photometry.
  • The SFA Very Small Array (SFAVSA) is a radio telescope array with two 3.0 m (9.8 ft) dishes that was built as a thesis project.[3] It is now used for instruction.

See also

References

  1. "41" Project". Stephen F. Austin State University Department of Physics and Astronomy. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  2. "History of the 18" Telescope". Stephen F. Austin State University Department of Physics and Astronomy. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  3. Wagers, Andrew James (2005). "Hydrogen 21-centimeter emission interferometry": 23. Bibcode:2005MsT..........2W. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)


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