Faulkes Telescope South

Faulkes Telescope South
Organisation Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network
Location(s) Siding Spring Observatory
Coordinates 31°16′22″S 149°04′16″E / 31.2728°S 149.071°E / -31.2728; 149.071Coordinates: 31°16′22″S 149°04′16″E / 31.2728°S 149.071°E / -31.2728; 149.071
Altitude 1,165 m
First light 2004
Diameter 2 m
Focal length f/4.7
Mounting Altazimuth mount
Website www.faulkes-telescope.com

The Faulkes Telescope South is a clone of the Liverpool Telescope and is located at Siding Spring Observatory in New South Wales, Australia. It is a 2 m (79 in) Ritchey-Chrétien telescope. It was designed to be operated remotely with the aim of encouraging an interest in science by young people.[1] It is supported by an altazimuth mount.

The Faulkes Telescope South inside its closed housing.

The telescope is owned and operated by LCOGT.[2] This telescope and its sister telescope Faulkes Telescope North are used by research and education groups across the globe. The Faulkes Telescope Project is one such group which provides observing time (awarded by LCOGT) for educational projects for UK schools. Funds were initially sourced by charitable donations from philanthropist Dr. Martin C. Faulkes.[1]

Faulkes Telescope South saw first light in 2004 with full operations occurring by 2006.[2]

Discoveries

2008 HJ is a small near-Earth asteroid which at the time of its discovery was the most rapidly rotating object in the solar system.[3]

Observations

On the 4 May 2007 the first ever observation of one of the satellites of Uranus passing in front of another was made by Marton Hidas and Tim Brown.[4]

In 2013 it was used to image the Near-Earth asteroid 2013 XY8.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "The Faulkes Telescopes". Macquarie University. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Faulkes Telescope South". Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "Record spin for newfound asteroid". BBC News. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "Astronomers View First Mutual Event For Uranus: One Satellite Passes In Front Of Another". ScienceDaily. 28 May 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  5. ↑ Asteroid 2013 XY8 Tumbled By Earth Today - Slate



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