Bok Telescope
Encyclopedia
The Bok Telescope is the largest telescope operated solely by Steward Observatory
. It finds much use from astronomers from University of Arizona
, Arizona State University
, and Northern Arizona University
, with instruments capable of both imaging and spectroscopy
. The telescope operates year-round, except during the August summer-shutdown when maintenance is performed while the weather is poor (Arizona's
monsoon
season lasts from roughly July through August).
, one of the most beloved astronomers in Tucson. It was used on March 18, 2007 by Bruno Sicardy to view Pluto's
occultation of a star in Sagitarrius
. The building itself features a very long spiral staircase leading to the telescope and a balcony called "The Bok Walk".
. The 90prime instrument, whose principal investigator is Edward Olszewski, is a prime focus, wide-field imager capable of imaging 1 square degree on the sky, while the B&C Spectrograph does spectroscopy. The Steward 256x256 NIR Camera, which has been available at the telescope since 1991, uses a NICMOS array which was built during the development of the NICMOS instrument on the HST
.
Steward Observatory
The University of Arizona's Steward Observatorys main office is located on the University's campus and is closely tied to the Department of Astronomy. Established in 1916 by its first director, Andrew Ellicott Douglass, and a $60,000 bequest made by Lavinia Steward in memory of her late husband...
. It finds much use from astronomers from University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, and Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...
, with instruments capable of both imaging and spectroscopy
Astronomical spectroscopy
Astronomical spectroscopy is the technique of spectroscopy used in astronomy. The object of study is the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, which radiates from stars and other celestial objects...
. The telescope operates year-round, except during the August summer-shutdown when maintenance is performed while the weather is poor (Arizona's
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
season lasts from roughly July through August).
History
The Bok Telescope was named after the prolific astronomer and director of Steward Observatory from 1966–1969, Bart BokBart Bok
Bart Jan Bok was a Dutch-American astronomer.He was born in the Netherlands, but spent a good deal of his childhood days growing up in what was then known as the Dutch East Indies. He was educated at the Leiden and Groningen Universities. In 1929 he married fellow astronomer Dr...
, one of the most beloved astronomers in Tucson. It was used on March 18, 2007 by Bruno Sicardy to view Pluto's
Pluto
Pluto, formal designation 134340 Pluto, is the second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the tenth-most-massive body observed directly orbiting the Sun...
occultation of a star in Sagitarrius
Sagittarius (constellation)
Sagittarius is a constellation of the zodiac, the one containing the galactic center. Its name is Latin for the archer, and its symbol is , a stylized arrow. Sagittarius is commonly represented as a centaur drawing a bow...
. The building itself features a very long spiral staircase leading to the telescope and a balcony called "The Bok Walk".
Instruments
There are currently 3 instruments that are mainly used at the 90-inch, two that work in the optical and one in the near-IRInfrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
. The 90prime instrument, whose principal investigator is Edward Olszewski, is a prime focus, wide-field imager capable of imaging 1 square degree on the sky, while the B&C Spectrograph does spectroscopy. The Steward 256x256 NIR Camera, which has been available at the telescope since 1991, uses a NICMOS array which was built during the development of the NICMOS instrument on the HST
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
.
See also
- Bok globules
- 90prime
- List of largest optical telescopes in the 20th century