Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

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File:Center for Astrophysics.jpg
SAO exterior, Cambridge, MA

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is a research institute of the Smithsonian Institution headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where it is joined with the Harvard College Observatory (HCO) to form the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).

History

The SAO was founded in 1890 by Samuel Pierpont Langley, the Smithsonian's third Secretary, primarily for studies of the sun.[1] Langley is remembered today as an aeronautical pioneer, but he was trained as an astronomer and was the first American scientist to perceive "astrophysics" as a distinct field. Langley invented the bolometer and discovered infrared radiation from the sun.

In 1955, the SAO moved from Washington, D.C. to Cambridge, to affiliate with HCO and to expand its staff, facilities, and most importantly, its scientific scope. Fred Whipple, the first director of SAO in this new era, accepted a national challenge to create a worldwide satellite-tracking network, a decision that would establish SAO as a pioneer and leader in space science research.

Smithsonian and the USAF Project Space Track shared observations and ephemerides throughout the early days of satellite tracking, 1957–1961.

In 1973, the ties between Smithsonian and Harvard were strengthened and formalized by the creation of the joint Harvard-Smithsonian CfA.

Remote stations

SAO has operated a number of remote stations over the years.[2][3]

Station Type Latitude Longitude El. (m) Opened Closed Coordinates
Mount Wilson, California Solar 34º13'N 118º56'W 1737 1908 1920 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Hump Mountain, North Carolina Solar 36º8'N 82º0'W 1500 1917 1918 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Calama, Chile Solar 22º28'S 68º56'W 2250 1918 1920 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Mount Montezuma, Chile Solar 22º40'S 68º56'W 2711 1920  ? Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Mount Harquahala, Arizona Solar 33º48'N 113º20'W 1721 1920 1925 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Table Mountain, California Solar 34º22'N 117º41'W 2286 1925 1962 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Mount Brukkaros, Namibia Solar 25º52'S 17º48'E 1586 1926 1931 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Mount Saint Catherine, Egypt Solar 28º31'N 33º56'E 2591 1934 1937 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Burro Mountain, New Mexico Solar 32º40'N 108º33'W 2440 1938 1946 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Organ Pass, New Mexico Space Track 32º25'N 253º27'E Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Olifantsfontein, South Africa Space Track 25º58'S 28º15'E Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Woomera, Australia Space Track 31º06'S 136º46'E Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Cadiz, Spain Space Track 36º28'N 353º48'E Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Shiraz, Iran Space Track 29º38'N 52º31'E Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Curaçao, Netherlands West Indies Space Track 12º05'N 291º10'E Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Jupiter, Florida Space Track 27º01'N 279º53'E Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Haleakala, Hawaii Space Track 20º43'N 203º45'E Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Villa Dolores, Argentina Space Track 31º57'S 294º54'E Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Mitaka, Japan Space Track
Nani Tal, India Space Track
Arequipa, Peru Solar,
Space Track
Oak Ridge Observatory

The SAO today

Currently, more than 300 scientists at the CfA are engaged in a broad program of research in astronomy, astrophysics, earth and space sciences, and science education.

SAO's pioneering efforts in the development of orbiting observatories and large ground-based telescopes, the application of computers to astrophysical problems, and the integration of laboratory measurements, theoretical astrophysics, and observations across the electromagnetic spectrum have contributed much to our current understanding of the universe.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory is managed and operated by SAO from Cambridge. With the University of Arizona, SAO also manages the MMT Observatory.

Directors

References

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External links

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