Corralitos Observatory
Encyclopedia
Corralitos Observatory was an astronomical observatory located near Las Cruces, New Mexico
. It was built on the same property as the Organ Pass Observatory and was dedicated in 1961, serving as a remote satellite station of Dearborn Observatory
, Northwestern University
.
In October 1965, a NASA program to detect transient lunar phenomenon
(TLP) was begin by the staff. This was run until 1972 but did not confirm any TLP. 98 reports of TLEs were received from amateurs during this period, of which 39 were checked from Corralitos Observatory, mainly by students of Northwestern University.
On October 22, 1966, a specialized, wide-angle camera was set up at the observatory that used only mirrors. Sponsored by Crysler, this Schmidt-style telescope employed a 0.152 metre aperture
correction mirror and a 0.3 metre spherical mirror with combined a 0.6 metre focal length. It was built as a test model for a far ultraviolet
camera intended for the Apollo spacecraft
. This may have been the first operational camera of its type.
During the 1970s, the first operational semi-automated supernova
e search program was conducted at the observatory, using 0.6 metre and 0.3 metre Cassegrain telescopes
. After the telescopes were automatically computer-aligned with a galaxy, it would take an image that was presented side-by-side with a stored picture for examination by an observer. In 1971, a photograph of Apollo 14
separating from the S4B rocket was taken by Justas Dunlap from the observatory.
In 1973, the site included a 0.6 m and a 0.4 m Cassegrain telescopes equipped with storage tubes, remote readouts and image orthicon chains. The 0.6 m telescope had automated operation capability controlled by a computer. A 0.3 m Cassegrain was available for photometry and the 0.15 m Crysler all-reflecting Schmidt telescope was still available. By 1977, only the 0.6 m and 0.4 m telescopes were reported as operational.
In 1978 operations at the site were halted due to funding issues, and in 1981 the observatory was transferred to the Corralitos Astronomical Research Association (CARA).
As recently as 1997, the observatory was reported to be engaged in long-term photometric monitoring of faint Be star
s. The CARA website has not been updated since 2001, and there are no references to new observatory activities in the academic literature.
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, also known as "The City of the Crosses", is the county seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 97,618 in 2010 according to the 2010 Census, making it the second largest city in the state....
. It was built on the same property as the Organ Pass Observatory and was dedicated in 1961, serving as a remote satellite station of Dearborn Observatory
Dearborn Observatory
The Dearborn Observatory is an astronomical observatory located on the Evanston campus of Northwestern University. The observatory was originally constructed in 1888...
, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
.
In October 1965, a NASA program to detect transient lunar phenomenon
Transient lunar phenomenon
A transient lunar phenomenon , or lunar transient phenomenon , is a short-lived light, color, or change in appearance on the lunar surface....
(TLP) was begin by the staff. This was run until 1972 but did not confirm any TLP. 98 reports of TLEs were received from amateurs during this period, of which 39 were checked from Corralitos Observatory, mainly by students of Northwestern University.
On October 22, 1966, a specialized, wide-angle camera was set up at the observatory that used only mirrors. Sponsored by Crysler, this Schmidt-style telescope employed a 0.152 metre aperture
Aperture
In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. More specifically, the aperture of an optical system is the opening that determines the cone angle of a bundle of rays that come to a focus in the image plane. The aperture determines how collimated the admitted rays are,...
correction mirror and a 0.3 metre spherical mirror with combined a 0.6 metre focal length. It was built as a test model for a far ultraviolet
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
camera intended for the Apollo spacecraft
Apollo spacecraft
The Apollo spacecraft was composed of five combined parts designed to accomplish the American Apollo program's goal of landing astronauts on the Moon by the end of the 1960s and returning them safely to Earth...
. This may have been the first operational camera of its type.
During the 1970s, the first operational semi-automated supernova
Supernova
A supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
e search program was conducted at the observatory, using 0.6 metre and 0.3 metre 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....
. After the telescopes were automatically computer-aligned with a galaxy, it would take an image that was presented side-by-side with a stored picture for examination by an observer. In 1971, a photograph of Apollo 14
Apollo 14
Apollo 14 was the eighth manned mission in the American Apollo program, and the third to land on the Moon. It was the last of the "H missions", targeted landings with two-day stays on the Moon with two lunar EVAs, or moonwalks....
separating from the S4B rocket was taken by Justas Dunlap from the observatory.
In 1973, the site included a 0.6 m and a 0.4 m Cassegrain telescopes equipped with storage tubes, remote readouts and image orthicon chains. The 0.6 m telescope had automated operation capability controlled by a computer. A 0.3 m Cassegrain was available for photometry and the 0.15 m Crysler all-reflecting Schmidt telescope was still available. By 1977, only the 0.6 m and 0.4 m telescopes were reported as operational.
In 1978 operations at the site were halted due to funding issues, and in 1981 the observatory was transferred to the Corralitos Astronomical Research Association (CARA).
As recently as 1997, the observatory was reported to be engaged in long-term photometric monitoring of faint Be star
Be star
A Be star is a B-type star with prominent emission lines of hydrogen in its spectrum. The designation is combined by the spectral class, B, and the lowercase e denoting emission in the spectral classification system. Line emission from other atomic ions might be present as well, but is typically...
s. The CARA website has not been updated since 2001, and there are no references to new observatory activities in the academic literature.