Robinson Observatory
Encyclopedia
The Robinson Observatory is an astronomical observatory
owned and operated by the University of Central Florida
College of Sciences
in Orlando
, Florida
, USA
.
Public viewings are held the first and third Wednesday of each month and are sponsored by the Central Florida Astronomical Society (CFAS).
Recently many updates and renovations have been performed on the observatory. The most recent addition was in 2007, adding high speed internet connection, a brand-new 20 inches (50.8 cm) Ritchey-Chrétien telescope
, and the ability to remotely operate the telescope and dome.
.
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
owned and operated by the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
College of Sciences
University of Central Florida College of Sciences
The UCF College of Sciences is the largest academic college of the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida, USA. The dean of the college is Michael Johnson, Ph.D....
in Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Public viewings are held the first and third Wednesday of each month and are sponsored by the Central Florida Astronomical Society (CFAS).
History
The observatory was built at a cost of over $500,000 in 1995, with Herbert Robinson donating almost half of the total cost. The observatory was not officially named for Mr. Robinson until eight months after his death, on April 25, 1996.Recently many updates and renovations have been performed on the observatory. The most recent addition was in 2007, adding high speed internet connection, a brand-new 20 inches (50.8 cm) Ritchey-Chrétien telescope
Ritchey-Chrétien telescope
A Ritchey–Chrétien telescope is a specialized Cassegrain telescope designed to eliminate coma, thus providing a large field of view compared to a more conventional configuration. An RCT has a hyperbolic primary and a hyperbolic secondary mirror. It was invented in the early 1910s by American...
, and the ability to remotely operate the telescope and dome.
Future
Plans are under way to expand the Robinson Observatory to include two smaller telescopes with domes donated by the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
See also
- List of observatories
- University of Central FloridaUniversity of Central FloridaThe University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
- College of SciencesUniversity of Central Florida College of SciencesThe UCF College of Sciences is the largest academic college of the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida, USA. The dean of the college is Michael Johnson, Ph.D....