Magdalena Ridge Observatory
 | It has been suggested that Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since July 2008. |
| Magdalena Ridge Observatory File:LogoMRO180160px.jpg | |
|---|---|
| Organization | Office of Naval Research (ONR) Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) |
| Location | Socorro County, New Mexico |
| Coordinates | 33°58′36″N 107°11′05″W / 33.97667°N 107.18472°W |
| Altitude | 10,600 feet (3180 meters) |
| Webpage | www.mro.nmt.edu |
| Telescopes | |
| Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer | Array of up to ten 1.4-meter optical telescopes on a 400-meter baseline |
| 2.4-Meter Telescope | Single 2.4-meter optical telescope, specializing in Near-Earth Objects (NEO) and rapid tracking applications |
Magdalena Ridge Observatory (MRO) is an astronomical observatory in Socorro County, New Mexico about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of the town of Socorro off at the exit for Water Canyon U.S. 60. The observatory is located near the summit of South Baldy Mountain adjacent to Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research in the Magdalena Mountains at an elevation of 10,600 feet (3180 meters). When completed the site will house two main facilities, an optical interferometer and a single 2.4-meter telescope. Magdalena Ridge Observatory is an international scientific collaboration between the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, and the Naval Research Laboratory.
Interferometer
The Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer will consist of an array of up to ten 1.4-meter telescopes whose images will be optically combined resulting in angular resolution that simulates that of a telescope 400 meters in diameter. The telescopes are being manufactured by Advanced Mechanical and Optical Systems of Belgium. Principal construction of the Interferometer's laboratory, office, and technical facilities were completed spring 2008 and first light is expected in 2009-2010.
2.4-meter SINGLE Telescope
SINGLE - Scientific Instrument for NEO, GEO, and LEO Exploration
When the Hubble Space Telescope was being constructed, NASA commissioned three identical 2.4m primary mirrors, the one that flew, and two backups as insurance. One of the two backups is in the Smithsonian and the other is the primary mirror of the 2.4m telescope. MRO's 2.4m telescope is capable of slew rates of 10 degrees per second allowing it to be used to observe objects in low-Earth orbit. The telescope will also be used for asteroid studies and observations of other solar system objects.[1] The 2.4-meter telescope achieved first light on October 31, 2006 and commenced operations on September 1, 2008 after a commissioning phase. As of October 2008, the facility is under a multi-year contract with NASA to provide tracking of LEO objects and support the GLAST space telescope program in addition to other projects and educational endeavors.
During commissioning of the 2.4m Telescope, NASA asked MRO in December 2007 to conduct the tracking and characterization analysis of asteroid [[2007 WD5|2007_WD5]]. MRO scientists confirmed on January 2 2008 that the odds of the asteroid hitting Mars had reduced from as high as a 1-in-75 chance to 1-in-28.[2] NASA and MRO scientists refined the odds to 0.01% a week later after further observations.
See also
References
- ^ "2.4m Telescope". Magdalena Ridge Observatory. Retrieved 2006-08-28.
- ^ Don Yeomans, Paul Chodas and Steve Chesley (January 22008). "New Observations Slightly Decrease Mars Impact Probability". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
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External links
- Magdalena Ridge Observatory Official Website
- Magdalena Ridge Observatory Clear Sky Clock Forecasts of observing conditions.
- Weather Underground Station