Quito Astronomical Observatory
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The Quito Astronomical Observatory ({{langx|es|Observatorio Astronómico de Quito – OAQ}}) is a research institute of EPN, the National Polytechnic School in Quito, Ecuador. Its major research fields are astronomy and atmospheric physics.{{Cite news |last=Dickinson |first=David |date=2009-12-09 |title=The Oldest Observatory in South America. |work=Astro Guyz |url=http://astroguyz.com/2009/12/09/the-oldest-observatory-in-south-america/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630014435/http://astroguyz.com/2009/12/09/the-oldest-observatory-in-south-america/ |archive-date=2020-06-30}}
The Quito Astronomical Observatory is one of the oldest observatories in South America and was founded in 1873. In 1963, The Government of Ecuador transferred title of the Observatory to the National Polytechnic School. The Quito Astronomical Observatory is the National Observatory of Ecuador and is located 12 minutes south of the Equator in the Historic Center of Quito.{{cite web|author=Hans J. Haubold |url=https://aas.org/posts/news/2014/04/ecuador-establishes-division-solar-physics-phenomena |title=Ecuador Establishes Division of Solar Physics Phenomena |publisher=American Astronomical Society |date=19 April 2014 |access-date=25 May 2015}}
History
File:Observatorio Astronómico de Quito, concepción artística.jpg of the Quito Astronomical Observatory, artist by Ludwig Dressel (1873).]]
The Quito Astronomical Observatory was founded in 1873. The first director was Juan Bautista Menten, who directed and planned the construction of the center, modeled on the Observatory of Bonn (Germany). The building was finished in 1878. Contained within it is one of the most important collections of nineteenth-century scientific instruments, featuring a refracting telescope and a meridian circle manufactured by Repsold.
The 24 cm Merz Equatorial Telescope is the most important instrument of the Observatory. It was manufactured in 1875 in Munich, Germany and is mounted on an equatorial mount.
Ecuador is located in a strategic geographical position where solar-physics studies can be performed year-round, providing data for the scientific community working to understand Sun-Earth interactions.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
The Quito Astronomical Observatory was completely renovated and fully restored in 2009.
Astronomical Museum
The Museum of the Quito Astronomical Observatory is located in La Alameda park and gives each visitor a vivid history of the various scientific instruments that were used by early astronomers and scientists. The Astronomical Observatory of Quito is one of the oldest in Latin America, and is a major attraction for scientists, students and tourists in Ecuador.{{Cite web |title=Inicio - Observatorio Astronómico de Quito - OAQ |url=https://oaq.epn.edu.ec/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=oaq.epn.edu.ec |language=es}}
The Quito Astronomical Observatory has been restored and is open for tourists.
Many of the tools were used by the French Geodesic Mission II who worked in the facilities of the Center between 1902 and 1914.
File:Sala Metereología- Museo OAQ.jpg|Meteorology Room
File:Esfera armilar, museo del Observatorio Astronómico de Quito.jpg|19th century armillary sphere.
File:Esfera Galáctica- Museo OAQ.jpg|Celestial Globe (1896), by Abelardo Alde.
File:Danjon Prismatic Astrolabe (1954), Quito Astronomical Observatory.jpg|Danjon Prismatic Astrolabe (1954), by Optique et Précision de Levallois.
File:Telescopio Repsol- Museo OAQ.jpg|Meridian circle (1889), by Repsold & Söhne.
File:Quito Astronomical Observatory pic g16a.JPG|Gauthier Chronograph (1913), by P. Gauthier.
Activities and services
File:Antique Telescope at the Quito Astronomical Observatory 002.JPG
The activities and services currently provided by the OAQ are:
- Night observations by telescopes
- Astronomical information on the equatorial zone
- Tour inside the entire Quito Astronomical Observatory.
- Basic astronomy courses
- Library
- Operation of the museum on the premises
- Annual publications
- Antique seismometers
See also
References
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External links
- {{Official website|http://oaq.epn.edu.ec}}
- [http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=ee9175732fe962b44714186a3be2c634&prevstart=0 3D view]
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Category:Astronomical observatories in Ecuador