ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
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Astronomical Research Observatory
24 inch Astrograph Telescope on a Paramount ME with Moon and Venus - 2007 05 20
30 Inch (0.76m) Robotic AutoScope
48 Inch (1.2m) Astro-Research Robotic Telescope
16 inch telescope is no longer in service
Photo by John Stone
Photos of the Astronomical Research Observatory
The left side encloses a 24" carbon fiber Astro-Research Optical Tube Assembly on a fully robotic Software Bisque Paramount ME. The right side contains the 32 inch (0.81M) fully robotic telescope. The raised center section of the observatory is the heated and air-conditioned computer control center. There are currently 4 computers operating in the control room. The observatory is 40 feet long and extends to 80 feet when you include the rail structures to handle the two retractable roofs. Telescopes installed are a 24 inch (0.61m) and a 32 inch (0.81m) telescope. In 2009 ARO plan to re-locate to much darker skies that will increase the limiting magnitude of our instrumentation by 0.60 magnitudes. See an ARO light pollution map of the current location and the proposed darker site with 21.69 magnitudes per arc/sec and 6.3 magnitude stars observed in November 2008.
Observatory Roof Closed
Computer control room - Station for the 24 inch telescope with observation window for the 24 inch observatory.
Computer control room - Station for the 32 inch telescope with back of the 32 inch telescope seen through the control room observation window.
Observatory Roof Open
A side view roof open.