magnilux - Astronomy Technology Today

INDUSTRYNEWS
SIERRA STARS OBSERVATORY NETWORK
Mt. Lemmon Sky Center Partners with the Sierra Stars Observatory Network
The University of Arizona (U of AZ)
and the Sierra Stars Observatory Network
(SSON) have announced an agreement to
provide access to the 32-inch telescope of the
Mt. Lemmon Sky Center (MLSC) through
the services of the Sierra Stars Observatory
Network.
MLSC recently completed installation
of the Schulmann 32-inch telescope at its
facility atop Mt. Lemmon. This telescope is
used for the Sky Center’s nightly citizen
observing program (SkyNights) and all-night
programs (AstronomyNights) as well as
being an integral part of several educational
programs for University classes and special
workshops for amateurs interested in learning
more about astro-imaging.
Anna Spitz, Program Manager of the
MLSC, appreciates the potential of the partnership
with SSON. “Magnificent instruments
like the Schulman telescope should
never be idle, and when our normal evening
programs were over, we wanted to find a way
to provide access to other users who have a
need for the aperture, superior optics, firstrate
camera, and steady skies that makes this
such an important facility.”
Ms. Spitz goes on to say, “Rather than
try to develop the infrastructure to support
this kind of access, we decided to partner
with Sierra Stars Observatory Network.
SSON has a unique offering, providing its
users to an ever-expanding worldwide network
of quality telescopes.”
The Sierra Stars Observatory Network
(SSON) is a partnership among professional
observatories that provides its users with
affordable high-quality calibrated image
data. The goal of SSON is to serve the needs
of science-based projects and programs.
Colleges, universities, institutions and individuals
use SSON for their education and
research projects. The mission of SSON is to
promote and expand the use of its facilities
among the thousands of colleges and schools
worldwide that do not have access to professional-quality
automated observatory systems
to use for astronomy education and
research.
Ed Beshore, Faculty Advisor for the
MLSC and Director of the Catalina Sky
Survey, was instrumental in putting together
the partnership with SSON. “We chose to be
part of SSON’s network, because it represented
a great opportunity for MLSC to be
part of an offering that offers great added
value through its support for educational and
research users that could benefit from access
to facilities in both hemispheres.”
Mr. Beshore goes on to say, “We also see
the ability to bundle on-site experiences, online
training, and remote access to a global
network of telescopes as a unique educational
opportunity. Adam Block, the director of
our SkyNights and Astronomer Nights programs,
is a world-renowned astrophotographer.
People wishing to learn from Adam
have traveled thousands of miles to attend
his workshops on Mt. Lemmon. We think
that now, those unable to undertake such a
long journey will still be able to benefit from
Adam’s experience partly through this new
ability to support observations from remote
users. In addition, we are looking at ways to
partner with local businesses and schools to
provide a curriculum that offers an experience
at the telescope coupled with supervised
follow-on projects that rely on students conducting
their own observing projects using
the 32-in telescope.”
Rich Williams, founder and CEO of
SSON, appreciates the quality and professionalism
that the staff at the MLSC brings
to SSON. “Our partnership with the
University of Arizona and the Mt. Lemmon
Sky Center adds powerful instruments and
key people to SSON. Their state-of-the-art
new 32-inch telescope will be the largest telescope
so far in our growing global network.
The professional staff also brings decades of
experience working with remote automated
observatory systems. Our users will be
delighted to start using this power instrument
for their education and research projects!”
For more information about SSON and
its partnership with the University of
Arizona Mt. Lemmon Sky Center, visit
www.sierrastars.com.
Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY 21