Quito Astronomical Observatory
Encyclopedia
Quito Astronomical Observatory is a research institute
of the Escuela Politécnica Nacional.
Its major research fields are astronomy
and atmospheric physics
.
(Germany
). This building was completely restored in 2009. Contains within it one of the most important collections of nineteenth-century scientific instrument
s, highlighting the large telescope
Merz and the meridian circle
Repsold.
It is now considered as a valuable asset of the Nation Monument. It can be visited from Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00. Night Observations can be made Thursday from 18:30 to 19:30.
. At the Museum of the Observatory can be known personally and vivid history of the instruments used by early astronomers and scientists of the country. The Astronomical Observatory of Quito is one of the oldest in Latin America
, and that is precisely one of its greatest attractions.
Many of the tools were used by the French Geodesic Mission
II who worked in the facilities of the Center between 1902 and 1914. Merz Equatorial Telescope is the most important instrument of the Observatory. This was manufactured in 1875 in the city of Munich
, Germany
. Its designer and builder was Jacob Merz at which the telescope is named.
Research institute
A research institute is an establishment endowed for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research...
of the Escuela Politécnica Nacional.
Its major research fields are astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and atmospheric physics
Atmospheric physics
Atmospheric physics is the application of physics to the study of the atmosphere. Atmospheric physicists attempt to model Earth's atmosphere and the atmospheres of the other planets using fluid flow equations, chemical models, radiation balancing, and energy transfer processes in the atmosphere...
.
History
The Quito Astronomical Observatory, was founded in 1873. Its first director was Juan Bautista Menten, who directed and planned the construction of the Center, taking as model the Observatory of BonnBonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
(Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
). This building was completely restored in 2009. Contains within it one of the most important collections of nineteenth-century scientific instrument
Scientific instrument
A scientific instrument can be any type of equipment, machine, apparatus or device as is specifically designed, constructed and often, through trial and error, ingeniously refined to apply utmost efficiency in the utilization of well proven physical principle, relationship or technology to...
s, highlighting the large telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
Merz and the meridian circle
Meridian circle
The meridian circle, transit circle, or transit telescope is an instrument for observing the time of stars passing the meridian, at the same time measuring its angular distance from the zenith...
Repsold.
It is now considered as a valuable asset of the Nation Monument. It can be visited from Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00. Night Observations can be made Thursday from 18:30 to 19:30.
Activities and services
The activities and services currently provided by the OAQ are:- Night observations by telescopes
- Virtual telescope system (TELVA)
- Astronomical information on the equatorial zone
- Basic astronomy courses
- LibraryLibraryIn a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
- Operation of the museumMuseumA museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
on the premises - Annual publications
Astronomical Museum
The Museum of the Quito Astronomical Observatory is located in one of the most traditional of the city, La Alameda parkLa Alameda Park, Quito
La Alameda Park is a park in Quito.This park is shaped like a triangle bounded by the streets Gran Colombia, Sodiro and 10 de Agosto. It is the oldest park in the city, its composition dates from 1596 with an area of 6.3 hectares...
. At the Museum of the Observatory can be known personally and vivid history of the instruments used by early astronomers and scientists of the country. The Astronomical Observatory of Quito is one of the oldest in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, and that is precisely one of its greatest attractions.
Many of the tools were used by the French Geodesic Mission
French Geodesic Mission
The French Geodesic Mission was an 18th-century expedition to what is now Ecuador carried out for the purpose of measuring the roundness of the Earth and measuring the length of a degree of longitude at the Equator...
II who worked in the facilities of the Center between 1902 and 1914. Merz Equatorial Telescope is the most important instrument of the Observatory. This was manufactured in 1875 in the city of Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Its designer and builder was Jacob Merz at which the telescope is named.