Lulin Observatory
Observatory
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Lulin Observatory (Chinese: 鹿林天文台; pinyin: Lùlín Tiānwéntái, obs. code: D35) is an astronomical observatory operated by the Institute of Astronomy, National Central University in Taiwan.
| |
| Organization | |
|---|---|
| Observatory code | D35  |
| Location | Nantou County, Taiwan, TW |
| Coordinates | 23°28′09″N 120°52′22″E |
| Altitude | 2,862 m (9,390 ft) |
| Established | 13 January 1999 |
| Website | www |
| Telescopes | |
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 Related media on Commons | |
It is located at the summit of Mount Lulin in Xinyi Township, Nantou County. In 2007, Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3), was found by this observatory, and became the first comet discovered by a Taiwanese researcher.[1] The minor planet 147918 Chiayi was also discovered here.[2]
The Lulin 1 meter had its first light in September 2002, after 10 years of development.[3]
In 2024, the Observatory completed its wildfire prevention efforts via its firebreak. The construction work was initiated back in 2001, though the work only started in 2019 owing to delays. It spans a width of approximately 30 meters.[4]
Telescopes
Operational (7)
- LOT Cassegrain telescope (D=1-m, f/8)[5][6]
- SLT (Seisi Lulin Telescope) R-C telescope (D=0.40-m, f/8.4) by RC Optical Systems[6][7]
- LWT (Lulin Widefield Telescope) Harmer-Wayne telescope (D=0.40-m, f/3.8) by Officina Stellare[8]
Co-hosted (in place of the four TAOS telescopes)
- RoLIFE (Robotic Lunar Impact Flashes) telescope (D=0.30-m) with Taipei Astronomical Museum[9]
- LATTE (Lulin-ASIAA Telescope for Transients and Education) telescope (D=0.50-m, f/6.8) with ASIAA[4][10][11]
- Two RIFT (Robotic Imager For Transients) telescopes (D=0.50-m) with National Cheng Kung University[12][13]
Retired (6)
- SLT76 (Super Light Telescope) Cassegrain telescope (D=0.76-m, f/9)[6]
- Four TAOS robotic telescopes (D=0.50-m, f/1.9)
- L35 Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope (D=0.35-m, f/8.25)[6]
Projects
- Taiwanese–American Occultation Survey (TAOS)
- Lulin Emission Line Imaging Survey (LELIS)
- Exoearth Discovery & Exploration Network EDEN[14]
Lulin Sky Survey (LUSS)
The Lulin Sky Survey searched for near-Earth objects from 2006 to 2009.[15] The Lulin Sky Survey Telescope,[16] a 16-inch (41 cm) Ritchey–Chrétien telescope with a field of view of 27 arcminutes, was operated remotely from mainland China, with robotic software developed in-house.[17][18] In addition to searching for new objects, the survey refined the orbits of known minor planets and comets, and performed photometric analysis of a subset of objects.[18] The principal investigator, student Quan-Zhi Ye of Sun Yat-sen University, was awarded the 2007 Shoemaker NEO Grant to develop the project.[15] Ye later identified a comet from images collected in July 2007 by collaborator Chi Sheng Lin; the unusual retrograde comet, formally named C/2007 N3, became known as Comet Lulin. It made its closest approach to Earth in February 2009.[19] Over the course of the survey, 781 new objects were discovered, including Comet Lulin and three fragments of comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann.[18] The LUSS project benefited from its location at a longitude with few other observatories looking for minor planets.[18]