- Mount Laguna Observatory
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The Mount Laguna Observatory or MLO is an astronomical observatory operated by the Astronomy Department of San Diego State University (SDSU). It is located approximately forty-five miles (72 km) east of downtown San Diego on the eastern edge of the Cleveland National Forest, and is named after the Laguna Mountains.
Mount Laguna Observatory
Organization San Diego State University Location San Diego, California Coordinates 32°50′33″N 116°25′41″W / 32.8424°N 116.4280°W Altitude 1,859 meters (6,099 ft) Webpage MLO at SDSU Telescopes ULTRA telescope 40-inch (1,016 mm) reflector Buller telescope 21-inch (533 mm) reflector Smith telescope 24-inch (610 mm) reflector "Illinois" telescope 40-inch (1,016 mm) reflector Large Robotic telescope (proposed) 100-inch (2,540 mm) reflector Contents
History
The MLO was dedicated on June 19, 1968, seven years after SDSU's Department of Astronomy became an independent academic department of SDSU's College of Sciences. The dedication took place during the 1968 summer meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.
The Observatory
Current Research Projects
The observatory has four telescopes which are used by the students and faculty of both SDSU and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
HPWREN
Data is transferred back from the MLO via the High Performance Research and Education Network (HPWREN).
Equipment
- 40-inch (1,000 mm) ULTRA telescope (Test bed for special Lightweight Mirrors)
- 21-inch (530 mm) Buller telescope
- 24-inch (610 mm) Smith telescope
- 40-inch (1.0 m) "Illinois" telescope
- 100-inch (2.5 m) Large robotic telescope (proposed)
Future Equipment and Research Projects
A collaboration between the University of Kansas, Composite Mirror Applications out of Tucson, Arizona, and Dartmouth College is currently looking to replace the 16-inch (410 mm) telescope with another 40-inch (1.0 m) telescope using carbon composite technology in a project known as ULTRA.
A 100-inch (2.5 m) Large Robotic Telescope is also being planned.
See also
External links
- San Diego State University
- SDSU College of Sciences
- Official home page for MLO observatory (SDSU Astronomy Department)
- Mount Laguna Observatory Clear Sky Clock
The California State University
Est. 1857Campuses Bakersfield • Channel Islands • Chico • Dominguez Hills • East Bay • Fresno • Fullerton • Humboldt • Long Beach • Los Angeles • Maritime • Monterey Bay • Northridge • Pomona • Sacramento • San Bernardino • San Diego • San Francisco • San Jose • San Luis Obispo • San Marcos • Sonoma • Stanislaus
Research and academics Academics: Engineering
Research: Desert Studies Center • Moss Landing Marine Laboratories • Mount Laguna Observatory • T.S. Golden Bear • Southern California Marine InstituteHistory Vox Veritas Vita Categories:- Astronomical observatories in California
- Astronomy institutes and departments
- Buildings and structures in San Diego County, California
- California State University
- San Diego State University
- University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
- 1968 establishments
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