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 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′22″N, 116°25′32″W UNCERTAIN
Altitude	1859 meters (6100 feet)
Webpage	MLO at SDSU
Telescopes
Unnamed telescope	16-inch reflector
Buller telescope	21-inch reflector
Smith telescope	24-inch reflector
Unnamed telescope	40-inch reflector
Large Robotic telescope (proposed)	100-inch reflector

Contents 1 History 2 The Observatory 2.1 Current Research Projects 2.2 HPWREN 2.3 Equipment 2.4 Future Equipment and Research Projects 3 Images 4 External links

[edit] History

The MLO was dedicated in June 19th, 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.

[edit] The Observatory

[edit] 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.

[edit] HPWREN

Data is transferred back from the MLO via the High Performance Research and Education Network (HPWREN).

[edit] Equipment

• 16-inch/40.64-cm telescope (to be replaced with 40-inch ULTRA telescope)
• 21-inch/53.34 cm Buller telescope
• 24-inch/60.96-cm Smith telescope
• 40-inch/101.6-cm telescope
• 100-inch/254-cm Large robotic telescope (proposed)

[edit] Future Equipment and Research Projects

A collaboration between the University of Kansas, Composite Mirror Applications out of Tucson, AZ, and Dartmouth College is currently looking to replace the 16-inch telescope with another 40 inch telescope using carbon composite technology in a project known as ULTRA.

Also a 100-inch Large Robotic Telescope is being planned.

[edit] Images

Entrance Sign

[edit] External links

• San Diego State University
• SDSU College of Sciences
• Official home page for MLO observatory (SDSU Astronomy Department)

San Diego State University

Colleges: College of Arts & Letters • College of Business Administration • College of Education • College of Engineering • College of Health & Human Services (and Graduate School of Public Health) • College of Sciences • College of Professional Studies & Fine Arts • College of Extended Studies • American Language Institute • Imperial Valley Campus People: List of San Diego State University alumni and faculty Media: KPBS (TV/DT/FM) • KCR (AM) • San Diego State University Press Research: SDSU Research Foundation • Facilities: Biological Field Stations • Mount Laguna Observatory Athletics: SDSU Aztecs • Arenas/Stadiums: Qualcomm Stadium • Cox Arena • Tony Gwynn Stadium