Apache Point Observatory
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2008-06-07T18:53:07Z
Epbr123
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/144.122.250.139|144.122.250.139]] to last version by Skarebo ([[WP:HG|huggle]])
{{Infobox Observatory
|name = Apache Point Observatory
|image = [[Image:Apache Point Observatory.jpg|250px]]
|caption = Site operations of the Apache Point Observatory.
|organization = [[Astrophysical Research Consortium]]
|location = [[Sunspot, New Mexico]], [[United States|USA]]
|coords = {{coor dms|32|46|49|N|105|49|13|W|}}
|altitude = 2,788 m (9,147 ft)
|weather =
|established =
|closed =
|website=[http://www.apo.nmsu.edu/]
|telescope1_name = [[Astrophysical Research Consortium]] telescope
|telescope1_type = 3.5 m reflector
|telescope2_name = [[Sloan Digital Sky Survey]] telescope
|telescope2_type = 2.5 m reflector
|telescope3_name = [[New Mexico State University]] telescope
|telescope3_type = 1 m reflector
|telescope4_name =
|telescope4_type =
}}
The '''Apache Point Observatory''' is located in the [[Sacramento Mountains]] in [[Sunspot, New Mexico|Sunspot]], [[New Mexico]] ([[United States of America|USA]]) 18 miles south of [[Cloudcroft, New Mexico|Cloudcroft]]. The [[observatory]] consists of the [[Astrophysical Research Consortium|Astrophysical Research Consortium's]] 3.5-meter [[telescope]], the [[Sloan Digital Sky Survey]] 2.5-m telescope with a 20" [[photometric telescope]], and [[New Mexico State University|New Mexico State University's]] 1.0-m telescope. Access to the telescopes and buildings is restricted, but the public is welcomed to stroll the grounds. The visitor's center at Sun Spot (the National Solar Observatory) includes a model of Apache Point's 3.5 meter telescope and actual filter plates for the Sloan telescope.
The 3.5 m telescope hosts the [[Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation|APOLLO]] lunar-ranging project. The APOLLO laser has been operational since October 2005, and routinely accomplishes millimeter-level range accuracy between the earth and the moon.
Observations at APO are often carried out remotely by observers using TUI, the Telescope User Interface, via the internet.
==Instruments==
There are a variety of optical and near-infrared instruments at APO.
===NICFPS===
The Near Infrared Camera/Fabry-Perot Spectrometer was developed at the [[University of Colorado at Boulder|University of Colorado]]. It uses a 1024x1024 H1RG [[HgCdTe]] infrared detector and a near-infrared [[Fabry-Perot Interferometer]]. It has many narrow band filters, including [[Molecular cloud|H2]], [[forbidden line|[Fe II]]], and [SiVI]. It is unique among astronomical Fabry-Perot devices in that it is cooled with [[liquid nitrogen]].
===DIS===
The Double Imaging Spectrometer is a low-resolution optical spectrometer.
===Echelle===
The [[echelle grating|echelle spectrometer]] at APO uses a 2048 x 2048 pixel [[Charge-coupled device|CCD]] and has a [[spectral resolution|resolution]] of 30,000.
===SPIcam===
The '''S'''eaver '''P'''rototype '''I'''maging '''cam'''era is an optical imaging instrument with a 2048x2048 pixel CCD.
=== Photometric telescope ===
The Photometric Telescope, or PT, is an (usually) automated telescope used by the [[Sloan Digital Sky Survey]] (SDSS). The telescope is a 20" reflector telescope with a single CCD camera, cooled by a CryoTiger unit.
During normal operations of the SDSS 2.5m telescope the PT is under automated control. While the SDSS obtains photometric or spectroscopic data, the PT will image patches of the sky that lie along the drift paths of the SDSS. These patches are used to calibrate the SDSS data, correcting for nightly atmospheric extinction as well as calibrating the data to the ''ugriz'' photometric system zero points. This process is required because while the ''ugriz'' system is tied to [[USNO]] standard stars, the SDSS cannot image directly these stars because they are too bright. Instead the PT records transfer patches which are compared to SDSS data.
The PT uses ''u'g'r'i'z''' filters. These filters were intended to be identical to the SDSS ''ugriz'', however physical differences do exist. Works is ongoing to accurately tie the PT to the SDSS, which is important for the future use of SDSS.
==See also==
* [[List of observatories]], including a nearby [[National Solar Observatory|solar observatory]]
==References==
# {{cite web | title= Apache Point Observatory Homepage| work=APO Home Page | url=http://www.apo.nmsu.edu/ | accessmonthday=November 14 | accessyear=2007 }}
==External links==
* [http://cleardarksky.com/c/ApachePtNMkey.html Apache Point Clear Sky Clock] Weather forecasts for observing conditions.
[[Category:Astronomical observatories in New Mexico]]
[[de:Apache Point Observatorium]]
[[fa:رصدخانه آپاچی پوینت]]