Embry-Riddle Observatory facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Embry-Riddle Observatory
Organization	Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University
Location	Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
Coordinates	29°11′17″N 81°02′54″W / 29.188183°N 81.048313°W / 29.188183; -81.048313
Altitude	36 m (118 ft)
Established	2005
Telescopes DFM 1-meter f/8 Ritchey–Chrétien reflector from DFM Engineering APM 203mm f/9 apochromat refractor from APM TOA-130 130mm refractor from Takahashi FSQ 106 106mm refractor from Takahashi CDK20 20 inch CDK reflector from Planewave Instruments TOA-150 (6) 150mm refractors from Takahashi Heliostat Modified Meade Instruments LX-200 mount with flat mirrors

The Embry–Riddle Observatory is a special place where scientists and students look at the stars. It's like a giant eye for studying space! This observatory is owned by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. You can find it on the roof of one of their main buildings.

Observatory History

The Embry-Riddle Observatory started in 2005. It was first called Embry-Riddle Creekside Observatory. It had a 15 feet (4.6 m) wide dome. This dome was located near a creek on the university campus.

In 2012, the university began building a new science building. This new building was very large. It was designed to include a bigger dome on its roof. This new dome is about 30.5 feet (9.3 m) wide.

When the new building was finished, the old telescopes moved. They moved from the Creekside Observatory to the new roof. In 2014, a brand new, very powerful telescope was added.

This is the 1-meter Ritchey–Chrétien telescope. It was installed at the Embry-Riddle Observatory.

What's Inside the Observatory?

The fifth floor of the College of Arts and Sciences building is all about space. It's used for studying stars and planets. The roof has a special area called a veranda. This veranda has strong stands for many telescopes.

Inside the building, there's a control room. This room is where people operate the main telescope. There are also tools for taking amazing pictures of space. A workshop holds all the small parts. These include eyepieces, cameras, and other gear.

The main dome is very big and heavy. It weighs about 18,000 pounds (8,200 kg). It sits high above the classroom. There is also a smaller dome. This smaller dome holds a special tool called a heliostat. A heliostat helps study the Sun.

Here you can see many portable telescopes on the rooftop veranda.

How the Main Telescope Stays Still

The biggest telescope needs a very stable base. It sits on a huge steel structure. This structure is four stories tall. It weighs about 164,313 pounds (74,531 kg).

This steel structure was built first. Then, the rest of the building was built around it. There is a small gap of 1 inch (2.5 cm) between the structure and the building. This gap is important. It stops vibrations from the building. This way, the telescope stays perfectly still.

This special design helps the telescope get clear images. It prevents any shaking.

This is the huge steel structure. It holds the main telescope steady.

Who Uses the Observatory?

The Embry-Riddle Observatory is mainly for learning and research. Both college students and graduate students use it. They can access the telescopes for their projects.

The observatory also hosts special events. They have public viewing nights. These nights happen about once a month. People can come and look through the telescopes. It's a great chance to see the night sky up close!

The Main Telescope

The primary telescope is very impressive. It is 100 centimetres (39 in) wide. It's a type of telescope called a Ritchey–Chrétien reflector. This telescope is the largest of its kind in Florida.

The main mirror of this telescope is very special. It weighs 560 pounds (250 kg). It was made by a company called DFM Engineering. Another mirror, called the secondary mirror, was made by Brunache Instrumental Optics. These mirrors help collect light from faraway objects.

Special Cameras and Tools

The observatory has many scientific cameras. There are about two dozen of them. Most are from Santa Barbara Instrument Group and Finger Lakes Instruments. They have different filters. These filters help scientists study different types of light.

One very important camera is the STA4150 CCD. It's cooled down to very cold temperatures. This helps it take super clear pictures. It can capture tiny details from space.

There are also other cameras. Two SBIG STX16803 cameras are attached to smaller telescopes. They take wider pictures of the sky. Another camera, the Finger Lakes FLI-4022C, takes colorful images. It helps match what you see through an eyepiece.

How the Telescopes Work

The main telescope and its three smaller telescopes can be controlled from a special room. This room is kept at a comfortable temperature. All four telescopes can be used at the same time. You can control them from one computer or separate ones.

The portable telescopes on the veranda are different. Users sit near each one to operate it. It takes about 15 minutes to set up a portable telescope. The main telescope can start taking pictures in less than five minutes. This makes it easy for students and scientists to explore the universe.