Instrumentation

Two outdoor observation terraces where telescopes are used for undergraduate astronomy teaching and public outreach events. These include an array of portable 8-inch go-to telescopes and a permanent 14-inch go-to telescope which resides inside "The Cube" (a small but robust structure on wheels). All these telescopes are equipped with white-light or H-alpha solar filters.
A 2,000 square foot multipurpose Interpretative Center. It is a state-of-the-art multifunctional building that serves as an open space, a lecture theater, or large classroom. It is air conditioned and can comfortably accommodate 100 people. It is equipped with educational displays showcasing Indigenous Astronomy, four general purpose public computers with touch-screen monitors, a 12-foot screen and HDMI data projector for presentations, and wireless internet.
A high speed optical fiber internet backbone and UCalgary wifi throughout the facility.
A wide array of research capable telescopes and detectors as described below:

P Langill

SPECS:

Of note:

The CMT and camera are remotely controllable and have been operated by astronomers as far away as Leiden University, Netherlands and Beijing Normal University, China.
Mounted to the CMT is an 8" f/6 reflector that feeds light via fiber optic cable to the RAO echelle spectrograph (R = 10,000). The spectrograph system which includes an ATIK 460EX Monochrome CCD camera, is also remotely controllable. The echelle spectrograph is a product of Shelyak Instruments.

Recent upgrades:

The CMT had its 50-year old primary and secondary mirrors re-coated and optical alignment optimized.
New Linux computer configured and will be implemented soon.

SPECS:

Designed and built by UCalgary/PHAS 1982 – 1986
Primary mirror: 183 cm, f/2.7 parabolic optics.
Mounting: Alt-Alt.
Configuration: 6 Megapixel SBIG camera mounted at prime focus with 9 micron pixels and 20 arc-min FOV.
R10,000 echelle spectrograph to be primary instrument in future.

History:

The ARCT has employed an LN2 cooled Photometrics CCD camera, an InSb photometer with JHKL’M’ filters, and an SBIG spectrograph, over its history.
Primary mirror designed and built at the University of Arizona in the Roger Angel lab.
The original optical configuration was an effective f/15 Cassegrain with multiple instrument bonnet.

Of Note:

The ARCT is now fully remotely controllable via the internet.
C14 + Lucid video camera allows short period occultation events to be recorded down to 12th mag.
Custom-made gui controls telescope, dome, and cameras, and has a catalogue of targets down to 18th mag.

Newly reconfigured ARCT.

P Langill

SPECS:

Of note:

A total of 17 Baker-Nunn satellite tracking ‘cameras’ were designed and built by Boller&Chivens between 1958 and the mid 1970’s. 12 were commissioned by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and 5 by the US Airforce. The KGMT is BN#15. It was originally located at CFB Cold Lake Alberta using 55mm wide film to photograph the sky. Today this incredibly fast digital telescope is a key part of the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory’s suite of research telescopes.
The KGMT has been a part of the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network since 2019. Skynet is based at the University of North Carolina.
The KGMT and camera are remotely controllable and have been operated by astronomers as far away as Kona Hawaii and Barcelona Spain.

Recent upgrades:

The RA rack-and-pinion gear box was disassembled, cleaned, reassembled and greased. Tracking and slewing tests have been made with nominal results. The KGMT is slated for big upgrades and could be moving to a new dark-sky location.

SPECS:

Primary dish: 3.3 meters f/0.5 parabolic optics.
Mounting: motorized meridian altitude adjustment.
Receiver and Electronics: 1420 +/- 2 MHz spectrometer.
Cascade of 2 feed-mounted low-noise amplifiers each with noise temp of 27K (total gain of 35 dB).
Dual conversion super heterodyne receiver with 140 MHz 1^st IF and 4 MHz 2^nd IF.

Of note:

The RAO RRT is perfectly configured for observing the dynamics of the hydrogen gas clouds in the spiral arms of our Milky Way galaxy. By scanning the plane of the Milky Way at different altitudes (and thus different galactic longitudes) the gravitational effects of Dark Matter are revealed in the measurable galactic rotation curve.

Planned upgrades:

The RRT data acquisition computer is being upgraded so the system is currently off line. This work is scheduled for completion Fall2024.

SPECS:

Of note:

The C14 utilizes a solar filter allowing daytime safe viewing of the sun.
Attached tandem to the 14 inch primary tube, is a Cornado 40mm H-alpha telescope, allowing observing of solar H-alpha emission, such as, solar flares and prominences

Facilities