Optical Astronomy

2-Telescopes Large Interferometer ( GI2T REGAIN ): The Grand Interferometre a 2 Telescopes is an Optical Interferometer, on Plateau du Calern, Departement Fresnel, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, France.
2dF QSO Redshift Survey ( 2QZ ): The official home page of the 2dF QSO Redshift Survey (2QZ), an Anglo-Australian collaboration surveying 740 square degrees of high-galactic lattiude sky. It will contain more than 25 000 z<3 QSOs, making it far the largest QSO survey in existence. This web site describes the survey objectives, current status and is the primary site for public access to survey data products. Currently approximately half of the full data set is available online for download.
Advanced Camera for Surveys ( ACS ): The Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) will be installed in the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) during a Space Shuttle mission scheduled in 2000. ACS will increase the discovery efficiency of the HST by a factor of ten. ACS will consist of three electronic cameras and a complement of filters and dispersers that detect light from the ultraviolet at 1200 angstroms to the near infrared at 10,000 angstroms.
Advanced Fiber-Optic Echelle ( AFOE ): A Spectrograph for Precise Stellar Radial Velocity Measurements.
Air Force Maui Optical Station ( AMOS ): Information about the Air Force Maui Optical Station (AMOS), located on Maui, Hawaii. This is a dual-use facility, supporting both US government agencies as well as the civilian community. Assets include visible and IR sensors, and a 3.67 meter telescope under construction.
Andromeda Galaxy and Amplified Pixels Experiment ( AGAPE ): AGAPE (Andromeda Galaxy and Amplified Pixels Experiment) is a French collaboration between CNRS (IN2P3 and INSU) and CEA (DSM/DAPNIA) laboratories.
The project is a search for microlensing on unresolved stars of the Andromeda M31 galaxy by MACHOs (baryonic dark matter candidates) of the halo of the Milky Way as well as of the halo of M31. [in French].
Anglo-Australian Observatory ( AAO ): The Anglo-Australian Observatory operates the Anglo-Australian and UK Schmidt Telescopes at Siding Spring, Australia, and a laboratory on the same campus as the ATNF in the Sydney Suburb of Epping.
Apache Point Observatory ( APO ): APO is privately owned and operated by the Astrophysical Research Consortium. Located near Sunspot, New Mexico, the observatory consists of a 3.5-meter telescope, the 2.5-meter Sloan Digital Sky Survey telescope, and two smaller telescopes.
Aristarchos 2.3m Telescope Project ( The New Greek Telescope ): The New Greek Telescope project of the AI-NOA for the 2.3m Ritchey-Chretien telescope, funded by the European Commission and the General Secretariat for Research and Technology of the Hellenic Ministry of Development.
Aryabhatta Research Institute of observational-sciencES ( ARIES ): This observatory at Himalayan regions of Nainital, India (long.~79.5 degree E, lat.~29.4 degree N , height~1951m) provides optical observational facilities (astronomical and atmospheric sciences) with 5 telescopes of sizes in between 15cm and 104cm. In future, ARIES plans to set-up a 1-m class robotic and a 3-m class telescope. The main research areas are in solar astronomy, star clusters, GRBs and supernova, and stellar pulsations. ARIES also promotes research work using radio and X-ray telescopes.
Asiago Observatory ( Padova )
Astrographic Catalogue 2000 ( USNO ): The Astrographic Catalogue (AC) was an international effort designed to photograph and measure the positions of all stars brighter than magnitude 11.0. In total, over 4.6 million stars were observed, many as faint as 13th magnitude. This project was started over 100 years ago. The sky was divided among 20 observatories, by declination zones. Each observatory exposed and measured the plates of its zone, subsequently publishing the plate measures.
The U.S. Naval Observatory has completed data entry of the printed volumes of the AC, has completed the data reduction of each zone, and has converted the positions to the system defined by Hipparcos. The resulting catalog, called AC 2000, is now available.
Astronomical Data Center ( ADC ): The Astronomical Data Center (ADC), at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, is a cooperative effort between the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC)/ World Data Center A for Rockets and Satellites (WDC-A-R&S) and its parent organization, the Space Science Data Operations Office . Currently, the ADC archives hold more than 670 catalogs of astrometry, photometry, spectroscopy, radio, and other miscellaneous data for stellar and nonstellar objects. The data were acquired through exchanges with the Centre de Donn'ees Astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) , other astronomical data centers throughout the world, and by direct contributions from the international astronomical community.
Astronomical Ring for Access to Spectroscopy ( ARAS ): ARAS is an informal group of volunteers who aim to promote cooperation between professional and amateur astronomers in the field of spectroscopy. The purpose of ARAS in fostering the participation of amateur astronomers in scientific projects in the field of spectroscopy is not to implement and coordinate observing campaigns. This is the role of astronomy research scientists, laboratories or international consortiums. ARAS will however attempt to consolidate the acquired data into a web database and will ensure that the quality of its data is compatible with scientific processing methods. ARAS was held from 6 to 11 May 2003 by the 8th "Ecole d'Astrophysique d'Oléron, France" and organized by Jean-Pierre Rozelot ("Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur", France), under the aegis of the "Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique" (CNRS). This session essentially focused on the theme "Astrophysics Tools for Cooperation between Amateur and Professional Astronomers", with special emphasis on spectrography. It demonstrated that amateurs can make a useful contribution to observation in a broad range of fields. [also in French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish]
Astrophysical CATalogs support System of the Special Astrophysical Observatory ( CATS ): Astrophysical CATalogs Support System (CATS) of the Special Astrophysical observatory includes a large number of astrophysical catalogs (mostly radioastronomical) and allows users to select sources from the CATS by different parameters, to make cross-identifications with user's lists and to study radio spectra of radio sources.
Atomic Line List: The atomic line list is a compilation of approximately 855,000 allowed, intercombination and forbidden atomic transitions with wavelengths in the range from 0.5 Å to 1000 µm. Its primary intention is to allow the identification of observed atomic absorption or emission features. The list is nearly complete for all ionization stages of all elements up to zinc. Transition probabilities are available for nearly 14% of the lines; they are mostly derived from Opacity Project data.
Automated Patrol Telescope ( APT ): The Automated Patrol Telescope (APT) is a wide-field CCD imaging telescope, which is operated by the University of New South Wales at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia.
Belogradchik Astronomical observatory
Bentec Multiplexed Hyperaspheric Optical Surfaces: Polymer Optics Manufacturing and free optical software illustrating Multiplexed Hyperaspheric Optical Surfaces.
Bernard Lyot Telescope ( UPS ): 2 m Cassegrain telescope operating in the visible domain. Located at 2878 m high on the Pic du Midi in the French Pyrénées. [also in French]
Big Bear Solar Observatory ( BBSO ): This site contains daily images from our solar optical telescope at Big Bear, California. Fulldisk images for the current month. H-alpha, white light, and Ca-II K-line images are generally available for every observing day; Ca-II K-line fulldisk archive; H-alpha fulldisk archive; White light fulldisk archive; Current high-resolution region images; Programs to read FITS images on IBM PCs and Macintoshes.
Bradford Robotic Telescope ( University of Bradford ): The engineering in astronomy Team in the Department of Industrial Technology are currently working on low-cost fully-robotic telescopes.
Brazil National Laboratory for Astrophysics ( LNA ): The Laboratório Nacional de Astrofísica is an Institute of the Brazil National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). At present, LNA supports 3 telescopes: the 1.6-m Ritchey-Chretien and coudé, the 0.6-m Cassegrain and the 0.6-m telescope of the University of São Paulo. [also in Portuguese]
Brazil National Observatory ( ON ): The Observatório Nacional of Brazil, located in Rio de Janeiro, was founded in 1827. [in Portuguese]
Bucknell University Observatory
Bulgaria National Astronomical Observatory "Rozhen" ( NAO-Rozhen ): The National Astronomical Observatory (NAO) - Rozhen (the Rhodopes), operated by the Institute of Astronomy (IA), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences disposes with a 2-meter Ritchey-Chretien-Coude (RCC) telescope, a 50/70 cm Schmidt, and a 60 cm Cassegrain telescope. On the 2-m telescope, in the RC mode, direct images of extended astronomical objects are obtained on astronomical photographic plates with size up to 30x30 cm2, covering a field 1° x 1°. The three cameras of the Coude spectrograph allow the obtaining of spectra of astronomical objects with dispersions ranging from 2 Å mm-1 to 36Å mm-1.
Cagliari Astronomical Observatory ( International Latitude Station ): The Cagliari Astronomical Observatory was established as International Latitude Astronomical Station of Carloforte in 1899, a small town of the sardinian island of S. Pietro. It has been, for about 80 years, one of the five international stations devoted to study the Earth rotation and polar motion. Observations with the zenital telescope were carried out, except in the period of the second world's war. Starting from 1978, the headquarters were moved to Punta Sa Menta, a site 15 km far from Cagliari which has the same latitude of the Carloforte station. (Satellite Laser Ranging, Astrophysics, Planetary Dynamics, Time Laboratory, Data Processing). [in Italian]
Calar Alto Observatory ( Centro Astronomico Hispano-Aleman ): The German-Spanish Astronomical Center at Calar Alto is located in the Sierra de Los Filabres in Southern Spain. It operates four telescopes with apertures from 1.2m to 3.5m as well as a Schmidt reflector. A 1.5m-telescope is operated under the control of the Observatory of Madrid.
Cambridge Optical Aperture Synthesis Telescope ( COAST )
Canada France Hawaii Telescope (ftp) ( CFHT )
Canada France Hawaii Telescope - Archive at CADC ( CFHT ): All the CFHT data are now being archived since September 18, 1992 and the proprietary period is 2 years. After that time, they become public and are available world wide.
Canada France Hawaii Telescope ( CFHT ): CFHT is a joint facility of the National Research Council of Canada, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique of France, and the University of Hawaii. The CFH observatory hosts a world-class, 3.6 meter optical/infrared telescope. The observatory is located atop the summit of Mauna Kea, a 4200 meter, dormant volcano located on the island of Hawaii. The CFH Telescope became operational in 1979.
There is a Mirror copy of the Web site at CDS.
A CFHT page at CADC has information about the CFHT archive, CCDs, proposal template and manuals.
Canadian Automatic Small Telescope for Orbital Research ( CASTOR Satellite Tracking Project ): The Canadian Automatic Small Telescopes for Orbital Research project, based at the Royal Military College of Canada, uses small optical telescopes to track medium to high earth orbit satellites such as Russian, Molniya satellites.
Canopus 1 m telescope ( Tasmania )
Carlsberg Meridian Telescope ( CMT ): The Carlsberg Meridian Telescope (formerly the Carlsberg Automatic Meridian Circle) is located on La Palma and is dedicated to carrying out high-precision optical astrometry.
Carnegie Institution Observatories ( OCIW )
Carter Observatory ( New Zealand ): Carter Observatory is the National Observatory of New Zealand.
Case Western Reserve University - Nassau Station Robotic Telescope ( CWRU )
Cassini-Huygens Mission to Saturn & Titan ( Cassini ): Saturn and Titan will be the destination for the Cassini mission, a project under joint development by NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The U.S. portion of the mission is managed for NASA by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Catania Astrophysical Observatory ( INAF-OACt ): Daily solar images (chromosphere and photosphere). [also in Italian]
CCD-world ( Charge-Coupled Device ): A mailing list for the discussion of issues relating to the use of CCD and SWIR systems in professional astronomy. The list address is CCD-world@ctio.noao.edu
Center for Astronomical Adaptive Optics ( CAAO ): The Center's mission is to develop state-of-the-art adaptive optics systems for the many large telescope projects currently under development by Steward Observatory in collaboration with a number of partners worldwide.
Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy ( CHARA Array ): CHARA research is focused on the development of astronomical long-baseline optical/infrared interferometry and the application of interferometry to high resolution observations leading to the determination of the astrophysical properties of stars. The Center operates the CHARA Array, a six-telescope optical/infrared interferometric array in a Y-shaped array contained within a 400m diameter circle (on Mount Wilson, California). This configuration will provide high resolution interferometry in the visible spectral region as well as the K spectral band (2.2 micron), with a limiting resolution of 0.2 milliarcsec in the visible.
Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory ( CTIO ): Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory is a complex of astronomical telescopes and instruments located approximately 80 km to the East of La Serena, Chile at an altitude of 2200 Meters.
CTIO is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy Inc. (AURA), under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation as part of the National Optical Astronomy Observatories.
China National Astronomical Observatories ( NAOC ): The NAOC-Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) were officially founded on April 25, 2001 through the bringing together of four CAS observatories, three CAS observing stations and one CAS research centre. The Headquarters of the NAOC are situated in the northern suburbs of Beijing on the site of the former Beijing Astronomical Observatory (BAO), and take responsibility for all matters relating to the former BAO. [also in Chinese]
Climenhaga Observatory ( Canada )
COnvection ROtation and planetary Transits - Asteroseismology and Search for Exoplanets ( COROT ): A space mission of the French Space Agency (CNES), with a launch planned in 2006. COROT stands for COnvection ROtation and planetary Transits.
Copenhagen University Observatory
Crimean Astrophysical Observatory ( CrAO ): The Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (CrAO) is one of the largest scientific center in Ukraine. Mirror site: Stanford (USA). [also in Russian]
Danish telescopes around the world
Dark Matter Telescope Project ( DMT / LSST ): The Dark Matter Telescope, also referred to as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, is a proposed 8.4 meter, 3-degree-field, synoptic survey telescope.
David Dunlap Observatory, University of Toronto ( DDO ): The David Dunlap Observatory is located in Richmond Hill, Canada. As part of the University of Toronto's Department of Astronomy it operates optical telescopes for research, the largest being a 1.88m telescope. DDO is also a centre for student training and public education.
DEep Near Infrared Survey of the Southern Sky ( DENIS - IAP ): DENIS is a deep complete survey of the astronomical sources of the Southern Sky in 2 near-infrared bands (J at 1.25 micron & K at 2.16 micron) and one optical band (I at 0.8 micron) simultaneously, using a one meter ground-based telescope at La Silla (Chile), with limiting magnitudes 18.5, 16.5 and 14.0, respectively.
DEep Near Infrared Survey of the Southern Sky: Point Source Database ( DENIS ): DENIS is a deep astronomical survey of the Southern Sky in two near-infrared bands (J at 1.25 µ and K at 2.16 µ) and one optical band (I at 0.8 µ) simultaneously, conducted by a European consortium, using a one meter telescope (ESO, La Silla). The survey started in 1996 and is expected to be completed in 2000.
The Centre de Données Astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) is implementing the final point source databases and is providing access of the processed and calibrated data to the worldwide community.
Delta Scuti Star Network ( DSN ): The Delta Scuti Star Network for Observation and Investigation of Delta Scuti, Gamma Doradus and SX Phe Stars is a collaboration of astronomers all around the world, who observe and study short period variable stars.
Digital Sky Survey ( DSS ): The Digitized Sky Survey comprises a set of all-sky photographic surveys in E, V, J, R, and N bands conducted with the Palomar and UK Schmidt telescopes. The Catalogs and Surveys Branch (CASB) is digitizing the photographic plates to support HST observing programs but also as a service to the astronomical community.
Images of any part of the sky may be extracted from the DSS, in either FITS or GIF format.
Digitized Sky Survey at LEDAS: This service provides access to digitized optical Schmidt plates forming the STScI Digitized Sky Survey (DSS). The DSS is particularly useful in producing finding charts. Users are able to tailor the size of the output image (from 17" to 1°) to suit their particular needs.
DIRECT Project ( Determining the distances to nearby galaxies ): We undertook a long term project, DIRECT, to obtain the direct distances to two important galaxies in the cosmological distance ladder -- M31 and M33, using detached eclipsing binaries (DEBs) and Cepheids.
Dominion Astrophysical Observatory ( DAO ): The DAO is operated by the National Research Council of Canada's Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics (NRC-HIA) as a national centre for astronomical research within Canada, with emphasis on UV, optical and IR astronomy. The Canadian Astronomy Data Centre (CADC) is a group within the DAO which is responsible for the Canadian archive of data from the Hubble Space Telescope as well the archive of data from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. DAO's Facility Manual is now online.
Dutch Open Telescope ( DOT ): Innovative new optical solar telescope at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma (Canary Islands). The DOT provides extended sequences of solar images in various wavelengths with high angular resolution (0.2 arcsec).
El Leoncito Astronomical Complex ( CASLEO ): The Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito is an astronomical facility operated under agreement between the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina and the Universities of La Plata, Córdoba and San Juan.
Its main telescope is a 2.15 meter reflector, equipped with direct CCD camera, spectrographs, a photopolarimeter and other instruments. It is located at 2552 meters above the sea level, in a high quality astronomical site in the mountains of Calingasta, 240 km away from the city of San Juan (Argentina).
The use of this facility is open to the national and international astronomical community. [also in Spanish]
ESO Bulletin Board: Midas; Computer; Info; Garching; La Silla; Sest; Pinboard
ESO-MIDAS Users Guide ( Overview ): ESO-MIDAS is the acronym for the European Southern Observatory - Munich Image Data Analysis System which is developed and maintained by the European Southern Observatory. The MIDAS system provides general tools for image processing and data reduction with emphasis on astronomical applications including imaging and special reduction packages for ESO instrumentation at La Silla. Volume A describes the basic MIDAS system with all general purpose facilities such as MIDAS Control Language, all available commands, data input/output (including plotting and image display), table system (MIDAS Data Base). Site specific features are given in an appendix. Volume B describes how to use the MIDAS system for astronomical data reduction. Application packages for special types of data or reductions (e.g., long slit and echelle spectra, object search, or crowded field photometry) are discussed assuming intensity calibrated data. A set of appendices gives a detailed description of the reduction of raw data from ESO instruments. Volume C gives the detailed description for all commands available. This volume is not available to remote users as the complete volume as it is accessed via the MIDAS GUI XHelp.
Estacion Astronomica Rio Grande ( EARG )
European Asteroidal Occultation Results ( euraster ): Online European observational results of stellar occultations by asteroids since 1997 (and sometimes by Pluto and satellites of outer planets).
European Northern Observatory ( ENO ): The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and its Observatories (the Observatorio de Teide, on Tenerife, and the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, on La Palma) make up a Spanish research and observational centre, which, since 1979, has been open to the international scientific community and effectively constitute the European Northern Observatory (ENO). [also in Spanish]
European Southern Observatory - Munich Image Data Analysis System ( ESO-MIDAS ): The European Southern Observatory, established in 1962, operates astronomical observatories at La Silla (600 km north of Santiago de Chile) and at Paranal (130 km south of Antofagasta). ESO's headquarters are in Garching, just north of Munich, Germany. ESO is supported by: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. In Europe and in Chile, ESO has a combined scientific, technical, adminstrative and visiting staff of around 400.
European Southern Observatory ( ESO ): ESO, the European Southern Observatory, is a multinational organisation of eight European member states. It operates astronomical observatories in Chile and has its headquarters in Munich, Germany.
Exploration of Neighboring Planetary Systems ( ExNPS ): NASA's plan for the Exploration of Neighboring Planetary Systems (ExNPS) consists of a long term program of continuous scientific discovery and technological development leading ultimately to the detection and characterization of Earth-like planets around nearby stars.
Fibre Large Area Multi-Element Spectrograph ( FLAMES, ESO VLT ): FLAMES is a Fibre Facility for the ESO VLT. It includes a high and intermediate resolution optical spectrograph (GIRAFFE), with its own fibre system.
Florence and George Wise Observatory ( Wise )
FOcal Reducer/low dispersion Spectrograph ( FORS, ESO VLT ): The two FORS instruments are designed as all-dioptric focal reducers for the ESO Very Large Telescope. They are capable of doing : direct imaging , long slit grism spectroscopy , multi object grism spectroscopy , polarimetry (FORS1), medium dispersion echelle grism spectroscopy (FORS2), and all sensible combinations of these modes (e.g. imaging- or spectropolarimetry) in the wavelength range from 330nm to 1100nm.
Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory ( FLWO ): The Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory (FLWO) is the largest field installation of the Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) outside Cambridge, MA (USA). Located near Amado, Arizona on Mount Hopkins, the FLWO has the following facilities: * The 6.5-meter MMT (256-inch) , a joint facility operated with the University of Arizona, for solar system, galactic and extragalactic astronomy. * The 1.5-meter (60-inch) and 1.2-meter (48-inch) reflector telescopes, for solar system, galactic and extragalactic astronomy. * The 1.3-meter(51-inch) PAIRITEL (Peters Automated IR Imaging Telescope, ex-2MASS) reflector, for infrared observations, especially of gamma-ray bursts, supernovae and other variable sources. * The 10-meter optical Gamma-ray reflector telescope. Also visit VERITAS. * The IOTA Telescopes, used for optical and infrared interferometry (in collaboration with several institutions). * The HAT (Hungarian Automated Telescope) network of optical refractor telescopes, used for robotic observations of the night sky.
French ground based solar database ( BASS2000 ): The BAse de données Solaire Sol 2000 was created as a support for THEMIS data and in complement of the MEDOC database of space observations (SOHO). This database is implemented on two complementary sites (Meudon and Tarbes); it archives data from Tenerife (THEMIS), Meudon, Nançay, and Pic du Midi.
Full-sky Astrometric Mapping Explorer ( FAME ): FAME is an astrometric satellite designed to determine with unprecedented accuracy the positions, distances, and motions of 40 million stars within our galactic neighborhood. It is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) and several other institutions. FAME will measure stellar positions to less than 50 microarcseconds. It is a NASA MIDEX mission scheduled for launch in 2004.
Gemini - U.K. Support Group ( UKGSG ): The U.K. GEMINI Support Group based at Oxford University, England is aimed at supporting the U.K. astronomer community in the use of the GEMINI 8m Telescopes. This site is the main source of information on the telescopes themselves, their instrument compliment, applying for observing time, observing with the GEMINI telecopes and post-observing data reduction/analysis for U.K. researchers.
Gemini Multiobject Spectrographs ( GMOS ): There will be one GMOS for each of the two GEMINI 8-m telescopes ( UK mirror ) which are due for completion in 1998 and 2000. They will provide a versatile low/medium resolution spectroscopic capability which will exploit the excellent image quality delivered by the telescopes at optical and near-infrared wavelengths.
Gemini Observatory ( Two 8 m telescopes ): The Gemini Observatory consists of twin 8-meter optical/infrared telescopes located on two of the best sites on our planet for observing the universe. Together these telescopes can access the entire sky. The Gemini South telescope is located at almost 9,000’ elevation on a mountain in the Chilean Andes called Cerro Pachón. Cerro Pachón shares resources with the adjacent SOAR Telescope and the nearby telescopes of the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. The Gemini North Telescope is located on Hawaii’s Mauna Kea as part of the international community of observatories that have been built to take advantage of the superb atmospheric conditions on this long dormant volcano that rises almost 14,000' into the dry, stable air of the Pacific. The Gemini Observatory’s international headquarters is located in Hilo, Hawaii at the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s University Park.
Georgia State University - Astronomy ( GSU ): CHARA = Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy
Earth Satellite Ephemeris Service for brighter earth satellites.
German Interferometer for Multi-channel Photometry and Astrometry ( DIVA ): The Deutsches Interferometer fuer Vielkanalphotometrie und Astrometrie (DIVA) is a small astronomy satellite, planned for launch in 2004. It is aimed to measure positions, proper motions and parallaxes, brightness and color of at least 30 million stars.
This amount and the high precision is unreached so far by any predecessor mission. In a sense it is a pathfinder mission for the technology of upcoming cornerstone missions in the ESA Horizon 2000+ and the NASA Origins programmes like GAIA, DARWIN, LISA, SIM etc.
Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics ( GAIA ): GAIA is a preliminary concept for a second space astrometry mission (after HIPPARCOS), recently recommended within the context of ESA's Horizon 2000 Plus long-term scientific programme. It is aimed at the broadest possible astrophysical exploitation of optical interferometry using a modest baseline length.
Globular Cluster Group, Padova: Web site of the Globular Cluster Group of the Astronomy Department of the University of Padova, including an archive of photometrically homogeneous color-magnitude diagrams for Galactic Globular Clusters (from both groundbased and HST observations).
Gran Telescopio Canarias Project ( GTC ): The Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC), is a high performance segmented 10-meter telescope to be installed in one of the best sites of the Northern Hemisphere: the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain). First light is planed for 2002.
The GTC project is a Spanish initiative, led by the IAC (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias) with the aim of becoming an international project. GRANTECAN has undertaken the construction of this telescope. [also in Spanish]
Guillermo Haro Observatory ( Cananea, Mexico )
Haleakala Observatories ( Hawaii )
Hard Labor Creek Observatory ( HLCO )
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics ( CFA ): The CfA combines the resources and research facilities of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Harvard College Observatory under a single director to pursue studies of those basic physical processes that determine the nature and evolution of the universe. The CfA operates the Whipple Observatory in Amado, Arizona, and the Oak Ridge Observatory in Harvard, Massachusetts. There is also a Theory Group ).
Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics ( HIA ): The Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics (HIA)is the scientific institute within the National Research Council of Canada which is responsible for operating Canadian observatories. Subdivisions and related facilities of HIA include: the DAO, DRAO, JCMT, CFHT, CADC, Gemini, and Solar Terrestrial Physics.
Hipparcos: Hipparcos space astrometry mission: Professionals, amateurs, and educators in astronomer should be interested in the (updated) Hipparcos astrometry mission www page, maintained by ESA. The monumental Hipparcos and Tycho star catalogues, with stellar positions, distances, and proper motions, double star data, and photometry (including thousands of light curves) was completed in June 1997. The 17-volume publication (including 6 ASCII CD-ROMs) can be ordered via the www page; the main catalogues can also be searched on-line, by object or sky region, with hyperlinks to the principal annexes. An "Educational Page" offers some ideas for observational projects for amateurs or for student projects, with the facility to search for the periods of variable stars interactively.
Hitachi High Technologies America ( Hitachi HTA ): Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc. is a manufacturer and provider of high efficiency diffraction gratings. We offer both standard catalog components and custom made to order items.
Hobby Eberly Telescope ( HET ): The Hobby-Eberly telescope (HET) is a new 9 meter telescope, built at the University of Texas McDonald Observatory near Ft. Davis Texas as a result of an international collaboration between the University of Texas at Austin, The Pennsylvania State University and Stanford University in the United States and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, and Goerg-August-Universitaet Goettingen. The HET has been tailored for spectroscopy, and in particular, fiber-coupled spectroscopy.
Hubble Heritage Project: A striking astronomical image, created by the Hubble Heritage team, is released at this site the first Thursday of every month. As well as creating color images from the exposures in the Hubble Telescope Data Archive, this project has voting events for choosing observing targets at this website.
Hubble Space Telescope Astrometry Science Team: See how astrometry, one of the oldest branches of astronomy, uses the Hubble Space Telescope, one of the newest tools of astronomy. Interrogate our home page to find out what we do, who we are, and what we've done. Look over our shoulder as we search for planets around a nearby star. We use the Fine Guidance Sensors aboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to measure star positions, study binary stars and study stellar motions. Primarily, stellar positions yield parallaxes which provide information on distance. The distances to nearby stars calibrate the entire astronomical distance scale. Monitoring star position may reveal previously unseen companions. We search for planets near Proxima Centauri and Barnard's Star. We also work to tie the HIPPARCOS reference frame to an extragalactic (non-rotating) reference frame. We study binary stars unresolvable using ground-based techniques. We inspect stars to determine whether or not they are binary. We use the Planetary Camera to obtain images of stars in globular clusters. The precision with which we can measure positions is so high, that after 3-5 years a second image will show motions of stars in clusters 6 kpc distant.
Hubble Space Telescope images and press releases ( News Center ): images, movies and animations from some of the observations by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope (HST). They are made available by the Office of Public Outreach of the Space Telescope Science Institute. See also: TIFFs & GIFs ( Levay), ExInEd (Macs-only)
Hubble Space Telescope picture gallery: a mousable sequence of press release photographs taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope (HST).
Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ): The Hubble Space Telescope is a cooperative program of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to operate a long-lived space-based observatory for the benefit of the international astronomical community. To accomplish this goal and protect the spacecraft against instrument and equipment failures, NASA had always planned on regular servicing missions. Hubble has special grapple fixtures, 76 handholds, and stabilized in all three axes. HST is a 2.4-meter reflecting telescope which was deployed in low-Earth orbit (600 kilometers) by the crew of the space shuttle Discovery (STS-31) on 25 April 1990. HST's current complement of science instruments include three cameras, two spectrographs, and fine guidance sensors (primarily used for astrometric observations). Because of HST's location above the Earth's atmosphere, these science instruments can produce high resolution images of astronomical objects. Ground-based telescopes can seldom provide resolution better than 1.0 arc-seconds, except momentarily under the very best observing conditions. HST's resolution is about 10 times better, or 0.1 arc-seconds.
IAC / Observatorio del Teide
IAC / Observatorio Roque de los Muchachos
Indian Astronomical Observatory Hanle ( IAO, the world's highest observatory for optical and infrared astronomy ): The Indian Astronomical Observatory, the high-altitude station of IIA is situated at an altitude of 4500 metres above mean sea level to the north of Western Himalayas. Atop Mt. Saraswati in the vast Nilamkhul Plain in the Hanle Valley of Changthang, Ladakh (4250m above msl), the site is a dry, cold desert with sparse human population and the ancient Hanle monastery as its nearest neighbour. The cloudless skies and low atmospheric water vapour make it one of the best sites in the world for optical, infrared, sub-millimetre, and millimetre wavelengths. A 2-m optical infrared telescope is installed at the observatory. This telescope is remotely operated from CREST, Hosakote, using dedicated satellite links. In addition, IIA is collaborating with University of Washington, St. Louis, in operating a 0.5-m photometry telescope for continuous monitoring of Active Galactic Nuclei. This telescope will be one of the pair of telescopes constituting Antipodal Transient Observatory. A 0.3-m Differential Image Motion Monitor, a 220-GHz radiometer and an Automated Weather Station have been installed to facilitate continuation of site characterisation.
Information Bulletin on Variable Stars ( IBVS ): The Information Bulletin on Variable Stars is a bulletin of the Commissions 27 and 42 of the International Astronomical Union, published by Konkoly Observatory, Budapest, Hungary.
Infra-Red Telescope Facility ( IRTF ): The IRTF is a 3.0 meter telescope optimized for use in the infrared. It was first built to support the Voyager missions to Jupiter. It is now the USA National facility for infrared astronomy providing continued support to planetary and deep space applications.
Infrared and Optical Telescope Array ( IOTA )
Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias Planetary Nebula Research Group ( IAC PN Group ): Members of the group; Research projects; Publications; Meetings
Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Óptica y Electrónica. Astrophysics Department ( INAOE, Mexico ): Information on the Large Millimeter Telescope an about the Cananea observatory
Interferometry Center of Excellence ( ICE, JPL ): The Interferometry Center of Excellence (ICE), at JPL, has been established to ensure the development and maintenance of a leading edge capability in optical and near-infrared interferometric astrometry and imaging.
International Liquid Mirror Telescope Project ( ILMT )
Iowa Robotic Telescopes Facilities: The University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Department maintains these pages as a guide to our suite of robotic, autonomous tasking telescopes. In addition to using these instruments for teaching and faculty and student research, limited observing time is made available to anyone with an interest in Astronomy and a valid observing request.
Isaac Newton Group - La Palma ( ING ): The Issac Newton Group consists of three telescopes, the 4.2 metre William Herschel Telescope, the 2.5 metre Isaac Newton Telescope, and the 1 metre Jacobus Kapteyn Telescope. They are situated at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, and are operated by the Royal Observatories of the UK. This resource contains documentation for many of the major instruments, details of how to apply for time, brief descriptions of the telescopes, details and status of the service programme, current telescope schedules, weather information for La Palma, and pointers to other institutions which share the site.
The site is mirrored at http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/ING/ for faster access to UK users.
Japan N. A. O. - Astronomical Data Analysis Center ( NAOJ-ADAC ): On-line Access Interface to Astronomical Data. [also in Japanese]
Jodrell Bank Observatory ( University of Manchester ): Jodrell Bank Observatory is part of the University of Manchester's Department of Physics and Astronomy. The Laboratories are home to the Lovell Telescope and the MERLIN & VLBI National Facility which is operated by the University on behalf of PPARC.
Joint Astronomy Centre ( Hilo, Hawaii ): The Joint Astronomy Centre incorporates the 15m James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) and the 3.8m United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) on the 4200m summit of Mauna Kea along with the Centre's Hawaii headquarters in Hilo. The facility is operated by the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh on behalf of the Science and Engineering Research Council of the United Kingdom, the Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek and the National Research Council of Canada.
Kanzelhoehe Solar Observatory: The Kanzelhoehe Solar Observatory is operated by the Institute of Geophysics, Astrophysics and Meteorology (IGAM) of the University of Graz, Austria. It is located near Villach, close to the Italian and Slovenian border. Operated continuously and devoted also to Solar surveillance since its foundation in 1943 it houses a rich archive of observations.
Keck Observatory ( CalTech )
Kiepenheuer-Institut für Sonnenphysik ( KIS ): The Kiepenheuer-Institut is a research institution of the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, dedicated to the study of the Sun. It is located in Freiburg, Germany, and operates solar observing facilities at the Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife, Spain.
Kirkwood Observatory
Kitt Peak National Observatory ( KPNO ): Observing information. There is also an anonymous ftp
KLEt Observatory Near Earth and Other unusual objects observations Team and Telescope ( KLENOT ): The KLENOT project is a project of the KLEt' observatory Near earth and Other unusual objects observations Team (and Telescope), concentrating particularly on fainter objects, up to a limiting magnitude of m=22.0 V. All the observing time will belong to our team, this will allow us to make changes in the observing programme as necessary.
The KLENOT telescope was constructed using a 1.06-m primary mirror and a primary focus corrector to obtain a plane field of view 33 x 33 arcminutes. This telescope is equipped with a CCD camera Photometrics Series 300.
Kodaikanal Solar Observatory: The Kodaikanal Observatory of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics is located in the beautiful Palani range of hills in Southern India. It was established in 1899 as a Solar Physics Observatory and all the activities of the Madras Observatory were shifted to Kodaikanal.
Konkoly Observatory: The Konkoly Observatory of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences has evolved from the private observatory of Miklos Konkoly-Thege. Konkoly founded his observatory in 1871 in Ogyalla. Twenty-nine years later he donated the telescopes and instruments to the Hungarian state. The construction of Piszkesteto Mountain Station started in 1958. Three telescopes currently operate there: a 60/90 cm Schmidt (since 1962), a 50 cm Cassegrain (since 1966) and an 1 m RCC (since 1974).
Kvistaberg Observatory: The Observing Station of the Uppsala Observatory.
La Silla - ESO Facilities
Lake Afton Public Observatory ( Wichita State University )
LAMOST Sky Survey Project ( LAMOST ): LAMOST is a meridian reflecting Schmidt telescope. Using active optics technique to control its reflecting corrector makes it a unique astronomical instrument in combining large aperture with wide field of view. The available large focal plane may accommodate up to 4000 fibers, by which the collected light of distant and faint celestial objects down to 20.5 magnitude is fed into the spectrographs, promising a very high spectrum acquiring rate of ten-thousands of spectra per night. The telescope will be located at the Xinglong Station of National Astronomical Observatories. The project’s budget is RMB 235 millions yuan, about 28.5 million USD.
Large Angle and Spectrographic Coronagraph for SOHO ( LASCO/SOHO ): This instrument monitors the solar corona above the Sun's limb in a similar way as we perceive the corona during a solar eclipse. It produces images of the corona in the visible spectrum and with distance off the Sun's center ranging from 1.1 to 32 solar radii.
Large Binocular Telescope Observatory ( LBT ): The Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) is a collaboration between Arizona (25%), Italy (25%, represented by the Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory in Florence), Research Corporation (12.5%), the Ohio State University (12.5%), and Germany (25%, represented by the LBT Beteiligungsgesellschaft).
The goal of the LBT project is to construct and exploit a binocular telescope consisting of two 8.4-meter mirrors on a common mount. This telescope will be equivalent in light-gathering power to a single 11.8-meter instrument. Because of its binocular arrangement, the telescope will have a resolving power (ultimate image sharpness) corresponding to a 23-meter telescope.
Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics ( LLNL ): The focus of the Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics Program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is the development of integrated adaptive optics (AO) and sodium-layer laser guide star (LGS) systems for use on large astronomical telescopes.
Lausanne - General Catalogue of Photometric Data ( GCPD ): The General Catalogue of Photometric Data (GCPD) built at the Institute of Astronomy of the University of Lausanne contains photometric data for about 200000 stars from some 75 different systems, taken from about 3300 papers. The WWW server allows to query the database ad retrieve any data from any photometric system. Searching the references by authors' names and keywords from the titles offers a possibility to retrieve the data from each of the 3300 papers directly.
Leeds University - Astrophysics Group ( School of Physics and Astronomy ): Within the Department of Physics at Leeds University are three research groups that work in Astronomy related areas. The Optical Astronomy group is mainly interested in globular clusters and CCD photometry. The Haverah Park group studies high energy cosmic rays by various techniques. The Whipple group is attempting to detect gamma rays with energies > 1TeV using air-Cherenkov detectors.
Leiden Observatory
Libraries of stellar spectra: Libraries of stellar spectra (late-type stars) by Montes et al., Other Libraries of stellar spectra. MK (Morgan-Keenan) Spectral Classification. Other related links.
Maintained by David Montes, Departamento de Astrofísica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Lick Observatory - University of California ( UCOLICK ): Descriptions and users' manuals for Lick Observatory telescopes and facility instruments on Mount Hamilton; local weather; astronomical calendars; telescope time applications; staff and contacts at Lick Observatory.
Pages on Lick Observatory of general interest to the public; Lick Observatory history; visitor information; Mount Hamilton web camera.
Liquid Mirrors at Université Laval ( LM ): Liquid Mirror (LM) technology is being developed at Université Laval. A f/1.2, 2.5 meter diameter, mercury mirror is being extensively tested in our testing tower. We are also exploring the use of gallium eutectics as reflecting liquids. The design of novel optical correctors to increase the accessible field of view of liquid mirrors up to 45 degrees is also addressed.
Liverpool John Moores University, Astrophysics Research Institute ( ARI, Liverpool JMU ): Details of the research and teaching interests of the group, as well as information on the Liverpool Telescope project - a fully-robotic 2m telescope to be situated at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma.
As well as the Astrophysics degree-course with Liverpool University, we also have an innovative distance learning course.
Loiano Telescopes - Bologna
Lowell Observatory
Lyon-Meudon Extragalactic DAtabase ( LEDA ): Created in 1983, LEDA is the oldest Extragalactic Database. It gives more than 60 of the most important parameters for about one million galaxies. It provides charts and images through a Web interface. In addition, a batch mode is available and also a very powerful SQL-like query language.
MACHO project: The MACHO project is searching for dark matter in the form of Massive Compact Halo Objects (MACHOs) using gravitational microlensing. We search for these events by monitoring over 10 million stars every night in the LMC and Galactic bulge, using the dedicated 50-inch telescope at Mt. Stromlo.
Magdelena Ridge Observatory Project ( MRO ): The Magdalena Ridge Observatory (MRO) project is an international scientific collaboration between New Mexico Tech, the University of Cambridge (UK), New Mexico State University, New Mexico Highlands University, the University of Puerto Rico, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. The project is overseen by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. The observatory is primarily intended for astronomical research and will be composed of two facilities, a single telescope and an array of optical/infrared telescopes called the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI). Located on the main ridge of the Magdalena mountains, some 30 miles west of the New Mexico Tech campus, at an elevation of 10,600 ft. above sea level, it will be the fourth highest observatory in the world.
Magnetic Classification Values of sunspots ( after Malde ): Worldwide network; observations of sunspots; classifying to Zurich/McIntosh-system; generating values=Classification Values after Malde (established in 1981; published in german mag. "vdS-SONNE").
Mauna Kea Observatories
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie ( MPIA, Heidelberg ): The MPIA operates the Calar Alto Observatory as well as conducting research in different areas of astronomy and astrophysics including star formation, extragalactic objects, astrophysical theory, and instrumentation development. [also in German]
McDonald Observatory ( University of Texas, Austin ): McDonald Observatory is located 450 miles west of Austin, Texas, in the Davis Mountains. At present, there are three operating telescopes: 2.7-meter, 2.1-meter, and .76-meter reflectors. The Observatory is equipped with a wide range of state-of-the-art instrumentation for imaging and spectroscopy in the optical and infrared, and it boasts one of the first and most productive lunar ranging stations.
McMaster Cepheid Photometry and Radial Velocity Archive: This site contains ASCII data tables of photometry and radial velocities for Galactic and Extragalactic Cepheids (both Classical and Type II). Data is presented as published and full citations to the original work are given. Currently, data are sorted according to star name.
MDM Observatory ( MDM Observatory ): MDM Observatory was founded by the University of Michigan, Dartmouth College, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Current operating partners include Michigan, Dartmouth, MIT, Ohio State University, and Columbia University. The Observatory is located on the southwest ridge of the Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, AZ. It operates two telescopes: the 2.4-m Hiltner telescope and the 1.3-m McGraw-Hill telescope.
Mees Solar Observatory ( MSO, Hawaii )
Michigan State Univ. SOuthern Astrophysical Research Telescope ( SOAR ): Outreach efforts to merge astronomy research and non-science education. The SOAR Telescope is located on Cerro Pachon, Chile, and operated by a consortium including Michigan State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the National Optical Astronomy Observatory and the country of Brazil.
Microlensing Planet Finder Project ( MPF, ex-GEST ): The Microlensing Planet Finder Project (MPF) is by far the most powerful proposed observatory for finding large numbers of planetary systems. It answers the following questions: How many planets are there? How are they distributed in mass and distance from their parent stars, and in distance from the Galactic Center? How many have large moons? How many have been expelled from their systems? None of these questions are fully addressed by other techniques particularly if the abundance is low. MPF will do this by observing microlensing signals from 100 million stars in the Galactic bulge for 4 observing seasons, and it will have sensitivity to planets with masses as low as 0.1 M\oplus at separations > 0.7 AU. MPF will be sensitive to analogs of all the planets in the solar system except for Mercury and Pluto and will complement the Kepler mission.
Microvariability and Oscillations of STars ( MOST ): MOST is Canada's first space science microsatellite and its first optical space telescope project, aiming for launch in late 2001. MOST is designed to measure (as its acronym implies) Microvariability & Oscillations of STars in broadband light with a precision of a few micromagnitudes over timescales from minutes to days. The resulting eigenfrequency data will be used primarily for stellar seismology, to probe the structure and ages of Sun-like stars, magnetic stars, Wolf-Rayet stars and halo subdwarfs. The subdwarfs are expected to yield age estimates which would place a meaningful lower limit on the age of the Universe. MOST should also be capable of confirming the presence of giant extrasolar planets identified in Doppler surveys.
Mississippi State University - Department of Physics and Astronomy: The Physics and Astronomy Department home page contains information about faculty, students, and departmental facilities. Research information and information about the University's Howell Observatory is also available.
Mississippi State University - Howell Observatory
Moletai Astronomical Observatory ( MAO ): The MAO (Lithuania) has three telescopes: 1.65 m telescope; 63 cm reflector; 35/51 cm Maksutov telescope.
MONOPTEC's Fixed Shutter Dome ( FSD ): MONOPTEC licenses the Fixed Shutter Dome, an enabling technology in observatory enclosures and satellite laser ranging systems. Four FSD's now reside in Tokyo, Japan, as part of the Keystone Project.
Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy ( MIRA ): The Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy is a non-profit astronomical observatory, founded in 1972 and dedicated to research and education in astronomy. Includes an Atlas of Low-Resolution Near-Infrared Spectra of Normal Stars.
Mount Evans Meyer-Womble Observatory ( Denver Univ. ): Mt.Evans Meyer-Womble Observatory, elev. 4,303 meters, in the Colorado Rockies. Dual 0.7 meter R-C telescopes, optical and mid-infrared instrumentation. Summer access. Collaborations invited.
Mount Graham International Observatory ( MGIO ): The Mt. Graham International Observatory is located on Mt. Graham near Safford , Arizona. Two telescopes are now in operation, the Vatican Observatory/Arizona 1.8m Lennon telescope (VATT) and the 10m diameter Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope (SMT), a joint project of Arizona and the Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Germany.
Mount Laguna Observatory
Mount Stromlo & Siding Spring Observatories - Australian National University ( MSSSO ): Includes the Australian AstroWeb site, and an Anonymous ftp server.
Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories - Observing facilities ( MSSSO ): The Australian National University runs the following telescopes: 2.3m at Siding Springs ; 74in at Mount Stromlo ; 50in at Mount Stromlo ; 40in at Siding Springs ; 24in at Siding Springs.
Mount Suhora Observatory ( Cracow Pedagogical University ): The Mt.Suhora Observatory is a part of Astronomy Department at the Pedagogical University in Cracow, Poland. It is located in Gorce mountain, near Koninki village, 60 km south-east of Cracow.
The scientific staff of 9 people works on photometry of variable stars.
Mount Wilson Observatory: The mountain is host to several ongoing observing projects using the onsite facilities. The observatory has two primary nighttime telescopes: the 60-inch telescope, built in 1908 is home to the HK Project and the Atmospheric Compensation Experiment; and the 100-inch (Hooker) telescope, built in 1917, which is available to the scientific community. Two solar observatories, the 60-foot tower telescope (operated by USC), and the 150-foot tower telescope (operated by UCLA) maintain long-term exploration of the magnetic activity behavior of the Sun. There are also two interferometers onsite: the Infrared Spatial Interferometer (ISI, operated by U.C. Berkeley), and the NRL Optical Interferometer. The Telescopes in Education (TIE) Project operates a 24" telescope, as well as the Snow Solar Telescope (built in 1904). Finally, a fully-robotic 32-inch Automatic Photoeletric Telescope (APT) is operated by Tennessee State University.
Mt John (Canterbury) University Observatory ( New Zealand ): There are three principal telescopes at Mt John: the 1-metre McLellan Telescope; the 0.61-metre Optical Craftsmen Telescope; the 0.6-metre Boller & Chivens Telescope.
Multi-Experiment Data Operations Center for SOHO ( MEDOC ): MEDOC (Multi-Experiment Data Operations Center for SOHO) is designed to meet the needs of European SOHO Investigators who wish to work together on the data analysis and the preparation of joint observations using SOHO instruments and also European solar ground-based Observatories. This European Centre complements the SOHO facilities (Experiment Operations Facility, Experiment Analysis Facility, U.S. SOHO Archive ) located in GSFC (NASA).
Multimission Archive at STScI ( MAST ): The Multimission Archive at STScI is being developed to support a variety of astronomical data archives, with the primary focus on scientifically related data sets in the optical, ultraviolet, and near-infrared parts of the spectrum.
Multiple Mirror Telescope Observatory (1) ( MMTO )
Multiple Mirror Telescope Observatory (2) ( MMTO )
Multiwavelength Milky Way: Images of the Milky Way galaxy in the light of several spectral lines and continuum bands, spanning the electromagnetic spectrum from radio to high-energy gamma-ray, are presented. The display is interactive, allowing zooming and panning of the images, each of which covers the entire sky within ten degrees of the Galactic plane. Explanatory text and links to the data sources and references are included. The Multiwavelength Milky Way site is an educational service of the Astrophysics Data Facility at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
Munich Image Data Analysis System (FTP) ( ESO-MIDAS ): This directory contains: README = This file; 9NNOV = Subdirectory containing the 9NNOV release of MIDAS (only packages, patches and documentation); courier = Directory containing the compressed postscript files of the newsletter: MIDAS Courier.; calib = Directory with the ESO calibration files for MIDAS.; linux = Directory containing binary versions of MIDAS for PC/Linux.
NASA National Space Science Data Center ( NSSDC ): The primary responsibility of the NSSDC is to further the use of NASA spaceflight mission data. The NSSDC also provides data from some ground-based and non-NASA sources which are considered to be important adjuncts to the NASA space-based data. The Data Center maintains and distributes documentation, indexes and catalogs about the data in its archives, and similar information about important space mission datasets maintained by other institutions. The NSSDC's Astronomy and Astrophysics Home Page offers information about online data and services, including access to a WAIS-searchable index of more than 700 astronomical catalogs; high-level project descriptions for such projects as ASCA, ROSAT, EUVE, HST, and COBE; and links to many other popular astronomy and astrophysics resources.
NASA SCAN: WAIS index to abstracts from NASA's Selected Current Space Aeronautics (SCAN) abstract service
NASA Shuttle flights - pictures: Pretty pictures from many NASA Shuttle flights, including STS-61 in December 1993 to service the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The images in this directory are mirrored from the site at: ftp://sseop.jsc.nasa.gov/
NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database ( NED ): Research tool providing access to a broad range of published extragalactic data. NED is continuously being updated and augmented. It is the systematic merger of major catalogs of extragalactic objects covering all wavelengths, and of object lists appearing in the refereed literature.
NED contains about 800,000 objects, along with names, redshifts, positions, bibliographic references, photometric measurements, and notes. The Web interface of NED started recently serving images of objects at various wavelengths.
National Astronomical Observatory of Spain ( OAN ): OAN is a 200 year old institution devoted to research in astronomy that operates several observatories. The Yebes Observatory is the site of a mm-wave 14m telescope devoted to spectroscopy and VLBI. A 1.5m optical telescope is located at the Calar Alto Observatory. The OAN is also the Spanish partner of IRAM, which runs a 30m mm-wave telescope and a 5x15m mm-wave interferometer.
National Optical Astronomy Observatories ( NOAO ): NOAO-Gopher(Gemini,Weather,Veronica),
catalogs, NSO, CTIO, KPNO
National Schools' Observatory: The National Schools' Observatory is a major web-based resource that allows UK schools to use world-class astronomical telescopes sited all around the world.
Using the resources and software developed by the Observatory, students can prepare and carry out their own astronomical research and share in the excitement of discovery.
National Solar Observatory ( NSO, USA ): The mission of the National Solar Observatory is to advance knowledge of the Sun, both as an astronomical object and as the dominant external influence on Earth, by providing forefront observational opportunities to the research community.
National Undergraduate Research Observatory ( NURO ): The National Undergraduate Research Observatory (NURO) at Lowell Observatory and Northern Arizona University is a 0.8m telescope located on Anderson Mesa south of Flagstaff, Arizona. NURO is a consortium of Universities and small colleges to provide a research grade telescope for undergraduate research and education.
NCSA Astronomy Digital Image Library ( NCSA ADIL ): The purpose of the NCSA Astronomy Digital Image Library is to collect fully processed astronomical images in FITS format format and make them available to the research community and the general public via the World Wide Web. The collection contains images from research observatories all over the world and taken at all wavebands.
Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking ( NEAT ): NEAT is an autonomous celestial observatory located at the USAF/Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) site on Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii. It is designed to complete a comprehensive search of the sky for near-Earth asteroids and comets.
Nearby Field Galaxy Survey ( NFGS ): The Nearby Field Galaxy Survey (NFGS) aims to construct a spectrophotometric reference atlas and catalog of the observable properties of ~200 nearby field galaxies. This survey is designed to be a benchmark for interpreting the spectra and imagery of distant galaxies.
The NFGS web-pages are currently hosted and maintained at the Arizona State University at www.public.asu.edu/~rjansen/nfgs/.
New England Light Pollution Advisory Group ( NELPAG ): Information concerning improved outdoor lighting to reduce glare and obtrusive light.
NFO's Automatic Radio Linked Telescope: Observatory associated with Western New Mexico University in Silver City, NM (USA).
Nordic Optical Telescope ( NOT, La Palma )
Oak Ridge Observatory
Observatoire de Haute-Provence ( OHP ): The Observatoire de Haute-Provence (OHP) is an optical observatory in southeast France offering small and medium-sized observing facilities to astronomers in France, Europe and abroad. Includes information about instruments and user manuals.
Observatoire du Mont Mégantic ( OMM ): A Ritchey-Chretien telescope with a mirror of 1.6m, located at about 250 km east of Montreal, at an altitude of 1111m. [in French]
Observatorio Astronomico de La Plata ( OALP ): Faculty of Astronomical and Geophysical Sciences. The Observatory was established in November 1883. Its principal tasks are research and teaching in Astronomy and Geophysics.
Observatorio Astronómico Nacional: The Observatorio Astronómico Nacional (OAN) operates 3 telescopes (2.1m, 1.5m, and 0.84m) up in the mountains of the Sierra San Pedro Martir of Baja California. The observatory offices and workshops are located in Ensenada, B.C. overlooking the Pacific ocean. OAN is a part of the Instituto de Astronomía of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
Observatorium Hoher List ( Bonn )
OmegaCAM: OmegaCAM is a 1 square degree wide field, optical, 16k X 16k camera for the VLT Survey Telescope (VST), which is expected to become operational at Paranal during the year 2005.
Open Cluster Database ( WEBDA ): WEBDA is a site devoted to observations and data on stars in open clusters. The database collects information on more than 100,000 stars in some 500 open clusters. Various facilities are offered to perform selections on star clusters and access the available data for each cluster. The database query through cluster maps is a main feature of the interface. A place where anybody should be able to get the desired data and contribute his or her own observations.
Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment ( OGLE - Warsaw University ): The OGLE project is a long term microlensing survey with main target being the search for dark matter in the Galaxy and possibly also in the Magellanic Clouds. The second phase of the project is realized on a dedicated 1.3m Warsaw telescope located in Las Campanas Observatory, Chile. Every night up to 30 million stars are measured in the Galactic Bulge, LMC and SMC.
Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera/Merate ( OAB ): The Osservatorio di Brera, first settled in Milan 1786, is now split in the two sites of Brera-Milano (hosting a small historical museum with the original Schiaparelli telescope) and Merate (with a park and three domes still operating). Optical and X-ray astronomy and instrumentation are the major topics studied by people in the OAB.
Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste ( OAT ): OAT Activities include: Physics of the sun and of the solar system, Physics of the stars, the interstellar medium and of the galaxy, Extragalactic astrophysics and cosmology, Astronomical technologies, and Space astronomy.
OverWhelmingly Large Telescope Project ( OWL ): A project of 100-m class optical and near-infrared telescope. Building on the success of its 8-m Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the coming to maturity of controlled optical systems, ESO is undertaking the design of a giant, next generation optical and near-infrared telescope, dubbed OWL for the eponymous bird's keen night vision, and for OverWhelmingly Large. With a diameter of 100 meter, OWL will combine unrivalled light gathering power with the ability to resolve details down to a milli-arc second.
Padova Astronomical Observatory
Padova database of stellar evolutionary tracks and isochrones
Palomar Observatory ( CalTech )
PDS Imaging Node's Planetary Image Atlas ( PDSIMG Atlas ): The Atlas is designed to be a single interface through which you can search for, display, and download full resolution data for all planetary missions. It will eventually replace individual existing browsers. Until that time, links to the individual browsers are provided from this central location. Current missions included in the Atlas are: 2001 Mars Odyssey, Mars Global Surveyor, Magellan, Clementine, Viking, Mars Pathfinder, Voyager, and Galileo.
PDS Imaging Node ( PDSIMG ): The Imaging Node of the Planetary Data System is the curator of NASA's primary digital image collections from past, present, and future planetary missions. The node provides to the NASA planetary science community the digital image archives, necessary ancillary datasets, software tools, and technical expertise necessary to fully utilize the vast collection of digital planetary imagery.
Perugia Univ. Astronomical Observatory & Astrophysics Section ( OAUP ): Osservatorio Astronomico e Gruppo di Astrofisica. The site contains information on the two astronomical facilities of the Perugia University Astronomical Observatory: the robotic telescope of the Perugia astronomical station, and the IRAIT telescope at the Coloti (Montone) astronomical station. This site contains also information on the local research and collaborations, expecially in telescope automation, IRAIT Antarctic Infrared Telescope, blazar optical monitoring, late stages of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis, GLAST gamma-ray NASA satellite and the REM telescope.
Pico dos Dias Observatory ( OPD ): The Observatório do Pico dos Dias (1864 m, LNA) has three telescopes: 1.6 m, and two 0.6 m.
Pine Mountain Observatory ( University of Oregon )
Planet Sciences Association - Astronomy sector ( ex-ANSTJ, France ): Public access to a 60 cm telescope. [in French]
Planetary Data System ( PDS ): The PDS archives and distributes scientific data from NASA planetary missions, astronomical observations, and laboratory measurements. The PDS is sponsored by NASA's Office of Space Science. Its purpose is to ensure the long-term usability of NASA data and to stimulate advanced research. PDS is continually upgrading and updating its archives, to better serve the needs of its user communities.
POLAR Spacecraft: Exloring through the Solar Cycle. Instruments: Plasma Waves Investigation (PWI), Magnetic Fields Experiment (MFE), Toroidal Imaging Mass-Angle Spectrograph (TIMAS), Electric Fields Investigation (EFI), Thermal Ion Dynamics Experiment (TIDE), Ultraviolet Imager (UVI), Visible Imaging System (VIS), Polar Ionospheric X-Ray Imaging Experiment (PIXIE), Charge and Mass Magnetosperic Ion Composition Experiment (CAMMICE), Comprehensive Energetic-Particle Pitch-Angle Distribution - Source/Loss Cone Energetic Particle Spectrometer (CEPPAD/SEPS), Hot Plasma Analyzer (HYDRA).
Poznan Observatory ( A. Mickiewicz University ): Information on the staff and research activities.
Probing Lensing Anomalies NETwork ( PLANET ): The PLANET collaboration is a worldwide network of astronomers with access to Dutch, South African, and Australian telescopes. The primary goal of PLANET is the study of microlensing anomalies (departures from an achromatic point-source, point-lens light curve) through multi-band, rapidly-sampled photometry. An ultimate goal is to place constraints on the number and distribution of planets around other stars.
Remote Access Astronomy Project - Remotely Operated Telescope ( RAAP-ROT ): The Remote Access Astronomy Project. The RAAP is an educational outreach program that promotes interest in science through providing astronomy educational resources. These include a series of digital image processing exercises to teach a variety of physical concepts as well as access to our computer controlled telescope allowing motivated students design and carry out their own experiments.
Robotic Lunar Observatory ( ROLO ): The Robotic Lunar Observatory (ROLO) is dedicated to studying one of the remaining unknowns of the Moon: what is its precise brightness? ROLO is currently part of the NASA Earth Observing Spacecraft Mission. The concept of the project is that the Moon will be observed repeatedly, and data gathered, so that we can predict the brightness of the Moon to better than two percent. Then, spacecraft orbiting the Earth can look at the Moon as part of a calibration sequence to get an absolute brightness reference.
Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment ( ROTSE ): ROTSE is an experimental program to search for astrophysical optical transients on time scales of a fraction of a second to a few hours. This is an area of astronomical science that has been relatively unexplored until now. The primary incentive for this research is to find the optical counterparts of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Two sets of instruments are now under construction: ROTSE-I, a 4-fold camera array using telephoto lenses to cover a 16 degree by 16 degree field of view and ROTSE-II, a pair of 0.45 meter aperture telescopes to cover a 2 degree by 2 degree field of view. The expected sensitivities of these two systems is expected to be m_v ~ 15 and 18 respectively.
Santiago de Compostela Univ. - Ramón María Aller Astronomical Observatory ( AO RMA )
SAO Telescope Data Center ( RVSAO, RGSC, SKYMAP Software ): Includes software packages: RVSAO, an IRAF package for finding radial velocities from spectra; RGSC a program for searching the Hubble Space Telescope Guide Star Catalog; SKYMAP a program for mapping star catalogs onto the sky; STAR a program for searching star catalogs
Schmidt telescope at Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur: The Telescope is located at the "Observatoire de Calern", above the city of Grasse.
Equipped with a 2K CCD camera, it is mainly used for the OCA-DLR Asteroid Survey program. It is also used for geostationnaary Space Debris detection and GRB optical counterparts follow ups.
Schwäbischen Sternwarte: The Swabian Observatory was founded in 1919. It is a non-profit-making organisation. Since January 8th 1922 we operate an observatory located on a hill in Stuttgart. The focal point of our astronomical work is the observation of occultations of stars by the moon, the planets and their satellites, asteroids and also mutual events. We measure the occultation timings with video and photoelectric equipment up to 10.5 mag with an accuracy of +/-0.01s and up to 13.5 mag with an accuracy of +/-0.1s. We send our results to IOTA, EAON, BAA and ILOC. Sometimes we make an excursion to observe grazing events with our transportable telescopes, for example a Meade 2080HTC. Another main emphasis is the observation of variable stars, mainly Mira type stars. Normally we measure stars up to 15mag. At the moment we are beginning to observe variable stars with the CCD camera ST-6. We send our results to AAVSO, AFOEV and BAV. [in German]
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (1) ( SAO )
SOlar and Heliospheric Observatory ( SOHO ): The SOHO project is being carried out by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a cooperative effort between the two agencies in the framework of the Solar Terrestrial Science Program (STSP).
SOHO was launched on December 2, 1995. The SOHO spacecraft was built in Europe by an industry team led by Matra, and instruments were provided by European and American scientists.
Solar Data Analysis Center ( SDAC ): The SDAC at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center serves current solar ground- and spaced-based imagery, text, figures, maps, and tables of NASA eclipse bulletins, solar flare data from the Compton GRO BATSE experiment and the Yohkoh spacecraft, and science operations planning information for the SOHO Science Working Team.... and more to come.
Solar Observation Station - Carla Sagan Observatory ( EOS/OCS ): The Astronomy Area of CIF-US (Center for Research on Physics/Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo Sonora, Mexico), operates EOS (Estacion de Observacion Solar) and OCS (Observatorio "Carl Sagan"), the only two solar observatories in the country with an observational program of active regions at the continuum, and H-Alpha and Calcium lines, through a two-heliostat system and a 15 cm refractor telescope. Live broadcast of solar observations through ASTRO-USON WebTV with the new 14 cm Maksutov-H-Alpha telescope. [also in Spanish]
Solar-Terrestrial Physics Home Page ( STP ): Solar-Terrestrial Physics Division of the National Geophysical Data Center home page. Includes several various STP disciplines within the Center: geomagnetism, Iononosphere, Solar and Upper Atmosphere, and two satellite programs: GOES and DMSP. DMSP is a two satellite constellation of near-polar orbiting, sun-synchronous satellites monitoring meteorological, oceanographic and solar-terrestrial physics environments. NGDC maintains an archive of all data recorded on DMSP satellites as relayed to NGDC by Air Force Global Weather Central. Data from March 1992 to March 1994, are considered to be experimental. After March 1994, the system should be fully operational.
South African Astronomical Observatory ( SAAO ): The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) is the National Facility for optical/infrared astronomy in South Africa. Its prime function is to further fundamental research in astronomy and astrophysics at a national and international level through the provision and use of a world-class astronomical facility.
Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy ( SARA ): The SARA telescope consortium operates the 0.9 meter SARA optical telescope on Kitt Peak.
Southern African Large Telescope Project ( SALT ): SALT, a 9-m class southern hemisphere twin of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) in Texas, to be built at the Sutherland observing station of the South African Astronomical Observatory.
SOuthern Astrophysical Research telescope Project ( SOAR ): The SOAR telescope is a Project for a 4.2-meter aperture telescope funded by a partnership between the USA National Optical Astronomy Observatories (NOAO), the Country of Brazil, Michigan State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The project is fully funded and under construction atop Cerro Pachón at the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory (CTIO) in the Chilean Andes. The telescope is being designed to support science in both high quality imaging and spectroscopy in the optical and near infrared wavelengths. The f/16 Ritchey-Chrétien optical design shall deliver a 12-arcmin diameter field of view with a tip/tilt stabilized image through a telescope with 0.18 arcsec image quality. SOAR should begin science operations in 2004.
Space Astrometry at The University of Texas: Present and future results of space astrometry carried out by researchers associated with The University of Texas McDonald Observatory and the Department of Astronomy.
Space Interferometry Mission ( SIM ): SIM will be NASA's first space interferometer designed specifically for measuring the position of stars. SIM will utilize multiple telescopes placed along a 10-meter (33-foot) structure.
Space Telescope - European Coordinating Facility ( ST-ECF ): The ST-ECF was established in 1984 jointly by the European Space Agency and the European Southern Observatory and is located at the ESO headquarters at Garching near Munich. The ST-ECF supports the European astromical community in exploiting the research opportunities provided by the earth-orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. The ST-ECF provides detailed technical information about the HST and its science instruments, supports European astronomers in the preparation of HST observing proposals, coordinates the development of computer software tuned to the specific data analysis needs of HST users, operates and maintains an archive of all the scientific data collected by HST, and acts as a European centre for associated meetings and workshops. In all of these duties the ST-ECF staff maintains close contacts with the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, which is charged with the scientific operation of the HST observatory.
HST Archive at CADC.
Space Telescope Science Institute ( STScI ): STScI is responsible for the scientific operations of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). STScI is operated by Associated Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under contract to NASA.
Special Astrophysical Observatory of Russian Academy of Science - Schedules ( SAO RAS )
Standard Objects For Astronomy ( SOFA ): Site with links to Standard Object Resources classified according to observing techniques and wavelength domains. Created by Patrice Corporon; now maintained by Shashikiran Ganesh and Anatoly Miroshnichenko. (Indian mirror; US mirror)
Stardust: A space mission that will fly close to a comet and, for the first time ever, bring cometary material back to Earth
STellar Astrophysics & Research on Exoplanets ( STARE ): STARE (STellar Astrophysics & Research on Exoplanets) uses precise time-series photometry to search for extrasolar giant planets transiting their parent stars. An important byproduct of STARE will be an unusually complete survey of variable stars within its selected fields-of-view.
Stephen F. Austin State University Observatory ( SFASU ): Facilities, research, and personnel of the SFASU Observatory.
Steward Observatory: The Steward Observatory Home Page provides information on the academic and research activities of the University of Arizona Department of Astronomy as well as information on the facilities of Steward Observatory.
Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy ( SOFIA ): The Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) will be a 2.5 meter, optical/infrared/sub-millimeter telescope mounted in a Boeing 747, to be used for many basic astronomical observations performed at stratospheric altitudes. The Facility will accommodate installation of different focal plane instruments, with in-flight accessibility, provided by investigators selected from the international science community. The Facility objective is to have an operational lifetime in excess of 20 years.
SUBARU Telescope: Subaru is an 8.2 m Japan national optical-infrared telescope at the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), National Institutes of Natural Sciences. The site includes astrophotographs from Subaru.
SuperCOSMOS Science Archive ( SSA ): The SuperCOSMOS Science archive holds the object catalogue data extracted from scans of photographic Schmidt survey plates.
Supernova / Acceleration Probe ( SNAP ): The Supernova / Acceleration Probe (SNAP) Mission is expected to provide an understanding of the mechanism driving the acceleration of the universe. The satellite observatory is capable of measuring up to 2,000 distant supernovae each year of the three-year mission lifetime.
Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope ( NSST ): 1m solar vacuum telescope at Roque de los Muchachos Observatory operated by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Swift Gamma Ray Burst Mission: Swift is a three-telescope space observatory (gamma-ray telescope, X-ray telescope, and ultraviolet/optical telescope) for studying gamma ray bursts. Scheduled launch: October 7, 2004.
Synthetic Spectra of B Main-Sequence Stars from 3000 - 10000 ( Landessternwarte Heidelberg-Königstuhl ): This Web page provides a simple interactive tool for line identification in B stars along the main sequence. The calculation makes use of the atomic line list of Kurucz & Bell (1995). For one of six possible effective temperatures between 10000 and 35000 K and an arbitrary wavelength range between 3000 and 10000 Å a normalized synthetic spectrum is displayed on-line. The output consists of a gif image (~10 kB) or a gzipped postscript file (~30 kB).
Tartu Observatory
Teide Observatory ( OT ): Observatorio del Teide: solar telescopes and laboratories; nocturnal telescopes; cosmic microwave background.
Telescopio Nazionale Galileo - Italian National Telescope Galileo ( TNG, La Palma ): The Telescopio Nazionale Galileo is the national facility of the Italian astronomical community, set in the Canary island of La Palma (Spain). The Astronomical Observatory of Padova had the responsibility of its construction through the TNG Project Office.
Tennessee State University 2-m Automatic Spectroscopic Telescope Project ( 2-m AST ): This site details development of an 80-inch automatic telescope that Tennessee State University is developing for high-dispersion spectroscopy. It includes engineering reports and extensive pictures of the instrument.
Terrestrial Planet Finder (Origins of Stars, Planets... and Life) ( TPF ): The Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) is a key element of NASA Origins Program. It will study all aspects of planets: from their formation and development in disks of dust and gas around newly forming stars to the presence and features of those planets orbiting the nearest stars; from the numbers at various sizes, and places to their suitability as an abode for life. By combining the high sensitivity of space telescopes with the sharply detailed pictures from an interferometer, TPF will be able to reduce the glare of parent stars by a factor of more than one hundred-thousand to see planetary systems as far away as 50 light years.
The Amateur Sky Survey ( TASS ): The TASS project has constructed low-cost drift-scan cameras and distributed them to sites around the world. The goal is to monitor bright objects across a large section of the sky.
The SCSU Archive of the MAPS Catalog of the POSS I ( MAPS Catalog ): This online version of the Minnesota Automated Plate Scanner (MAPS) Catalog of the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (Epoch I) [hereafter the MAPS Catalog] was constructed by Juan Cabanela, one of the authors of the original MAPS Catalog of the POSS I. The MAPS Catalog was originally distributed on four DVDs to several astronomical data centers. The goal of this project is to make the catalog available in an interactive format. This site should be viewed as a backup/alternate version of the website maintained by the Minnesota Automated Plate Scanner group at http://aps.umn.edu/.
THEMIS - Heliographic Telescope for the Study of the Magnetism and Instabilities on the Sun ( THEMIS ): THEMIS (Télescope Héliographique pour l'Etude du Magnétisme et des Instabilités Solaires) is a new generation Franco-Italian solar telescope built by INSU/CNRS (France) and CNR (Italy). The main scientific goal for which it has been designed is the accurate determination of the vector magnetic field.
Thueringer Landessternwarte Tautenburg ( TLS ): The observatory is running a 2m telescope which can be used in three different optical configurations: Schmidt telescope Cassegrain telescope Coude telescope
Traitement Elementaire Reduction et Analyse des PIXels de Megacam ( TERAPIX ): Terapix is an astronomical data processing center dedicated to very large CCD images and massive data flow provided by the CFHT Megacam camera.
Terapix is located at Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris.
Transition Region And Coronal Explorer ( TRACE ): TRACE will enable solar physicists to study the connections between fine-scale magnetic fields and the associated plasma structures on the Sun in a quantitative way by observing the photosphere, transition region, and corona.
Udaipur Solar Observatory ( USO )
UK Astronomy Data Centre ( ADC-CASU, formerly RGO Astronomy Data Centre ): The Data Centre is part of the Cambridge Astronomy Survey Unit and houses a good selection of data from the UK's ground based telescopes as well as a number of catalogues.
UK Schmidt Telescope - Anglo-Australian Observatory ( UKST / AAO )
University College London - Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of British Columbia - Depart