Tenagra Observatories

The observatory near Cottage Grove, Oregon was constructed {{circa}} 1998, and had a {{convert|14|inch|mm|adj=on}} Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain with a SBIG CCD imager, probably upgraded to Apogee Instruments later.{{sfn|IAWN|2018}}{{sfn|Polakis|2004}}

The Arizona observatory at Patagonia, 20 miles from Nogales, began operations in 2000. Tenagra II is a custom-made {{convert|32|inch|mm|adj=on}} Ritchey-Chretien telescope manufactured by SciTech Astronomical Research, in operation since 2001.{{sfn|Holvorcem|Schwartz|Juels|Breganhola|2003}}{{sfn|Zionts|2017}}{{sfn|Polakis|2004}} "Pearl" is a {{convert|16|inch|mm|adj=on}} f/3.75 corrected Newtonian.{{sfn|IAWN|2018}} There is also a {{convert|24|inch|mm|adj=on}} SciTech Ritchey-Chretien, and another 14-inch Celestron.{{sfn|Polakis|2004}}

The Oregon site was in use as of 2004 as a backup site, during the Southwest monsoon season.{{sfn|Polakis|2004}}

The robotic telescopes can image 1,000 galaxies in an evening for supernova discovery.{{sfn|Polakis|2004}} Using the Oregon Tenagra I telescope, its maker became "the first amateur to achieve consistent supernova discoveries" by using a robotic telescope "to patrol hundreds of galaxies each night".{{sfn|Mobberley|2004}}

The Oregon observatory reported 77 Minor Planet Electronic Circulars between 1999 and 2002.{{sfn|Minor Planet Center|2022b}}

The Oregon observatory discovered supernova {{interlanguage link|SN 1997cx|pl}}.{{sfn|IAU|1997}}

Paulo R. Holvorcem (Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil) and Michael Schwartz (Patagonia, Arizona) discovered comet {{interlanguage link|C/2011 K1 (Schwartz-Holvorcem)|uk}} in May 2011.{{sfn|Holvorcem|Schwartz|Ryan|Ryan|2011}}{{sfn|Elenin|2011}} Schwartz also independently discovered two comets, P/2013 T2 and C/2014 B1, at Tenagra.{{r|jpl-2013t2|jpl-2014b1}}

Comet {{interlanguage link|274P/Tombaugh-Tenagra|fr}} is named for the observatory and Clyde Tombaugh. Tombaugh initially discovered it in January 1931,{{sfn|Levy|2003|pp=77-79|ps= The object recognized as a comet by Tombaugh was incorrectly reported by observatory personnel at the time as an asteroid and designated 1931 AN.}} but was not recovered until 2012. It was provisionally named Comet P/2012 WX_32 (Tenagra) when recovered by Michael Schwartz and Paulo R. Holvorcem using Tenagra II.{{sfn|Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams|2012}}

The observatory's Tenagra IV instrument, along with Palomar Observatory's Samuel Oschin telescope, was the second to image dwarf planet Sedna, providing confirmation of its discovery and refining its orbital parameters.{{sfn|Minor Planet Electronic Circular 2004-E45|2004}}

In 2018, Pearl imaged the Tesla Roadster in space,{{sfn|Sky & Telescope|2018}} when it had a magnitude of 15.5,{{sfn|Masi|2018}} comparable to Pluto's moon Charon.

In 2018, imagery from the Arizona observatory was livestreamed by Gianluca Masi during the 2018 DV1 close approach to Earth as a Virtual Telescope project outreach event.{{sfn|Mack|2018}} Images of the Tiangong-1 space station in its decaying orbit were livestreamed in 2018, a few days before reentry.{{sfn|Weitering|2018}}

2013 Edgar Wilson Award{{sfn|Beatty|2014}}

• List of asteroid-discovering observatories#Tenagra II Observatory
• List of minor planet discoverers
• "Darmok"
• Winer Observatory

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web

| title= C/2013 T2 – JPL Small-Body Database Lookup

| url= https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=2013T2

| website= ssd.jpl.nasa.gov

| publisher= Jet Propulsion Laboratory

| access-date= 18 May 2025 }}

{{cite web

| title= C/2014 B1 – JPL Small-Body Database Lookup

| url= https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=2014B1

| website= ssd.jpl.nasa.gov

| publisher= Jet Propulsion Laboratory

| access-date= 18 May 2025 }}

}}

• {{cite web

|title = List Of Observatory Codes (formatted, with external links)

|work = Minor Planet Center

|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/ObsCodesF.html

|access-date= November 25, 2022

|ref={{harvid|Minor Planet Center|2022a}}}}

• {{cite web|title=848 Tenagra Observatory, Cottage Grove|url=https://sbnmpc.astro.umd.edu/mpecwatch/byStation/station_848.html|work=MPEC Observatory Browser|publisher=Minor Planet Center |access-date= November 25, 2022|ref={{harvid|Minor Planet Center|2022b}}}}
• {{cite web|title=926 Tenagra II Observatory, Nogales|url=https://sbnmpc.astro.umd.edu/mpecwatch/byStation/station_926.html|work=MPEC Observatory Browser|publisher=Minor Planet Center |access-date= November 25, 2022|ref={{harvid|Minor Planet Center|2022c}}}}
• {{citation|last=Polakis|first=Tom|authorlink=Tom Polakis|title=Robotic Observing: If Robotic-Controlled Telescopes Are the Future of Astronomical Observing, Then Tenagra Observatories Are Leading This Technological Revolution|date=May 2004|journal=Astronomy|volume=32|issue=5}}
• {{cite book|title=Small Astronomical Observatories|pages=187–197|chapter=Tenagra Observatory|first=Michael |last=Schwartz |series=Practical Astronomy|year=1996 |publisher=Springer|doi=10.1007/978-1-4471-0999-0_21|isbn=978-3-540-19913-7 }}
• {{cite web|url=https://iawn.net/features/tenagra.shtml|publisher=International Asteroid Warning Network|title=Tenagra Observatories - An IAWN observing station in Arizona|access-date=November 25, 2022|year=c. 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619171907/https://iawn.net/features/tenagra.shtml|archive-date=2018-06-19|ref={{harvid|IAWN|2018}}}}
• {{cite web|url=http://spaceobs.org/en/2011/06/07/first-comet-of-tenagra-observatory/|title=PostDateIcon |date=June 7, 2011 |first=Leonid |last=Elenin |website=spaceobs.org}}
• {{cite journal |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011IAUC.9211....1H/abstract |title=Comet C/2011 K1 (Schwartz-Holvorcem) |last1= Holvorcem |first1=R |last2=Schwartz |first2=M. |last3=Ryan |first3=W. H. |last4=Ryan |first4=E. V. |last5=Buzzi |first5=L. |last6=Holmes |first6=R. |last7=Vorobjov |first7=T. |last8=Foglia |first8=S. |last9=Williams |first9=G. V. |journal=IAU Circular |editor=Green, D. W. E. |date=31 May 2011 |issue=9211 |page=1 |bibcode=2011IAUC.9211....1H}}
• {{citation|title=Supernova 1997cx in NGC 3057|journal=IAU Circ.|year=1997|editor=Green, D. W. E.|bibcode=1997IAUC.6700....1S|ref={{harvid|IAU|1997}} |last1=Schwartz |first1=M. |last2=Jha |first2=S. |last3=Garnavich |first3=P. |last4=Challis |first4=P. |last5=Kirshner |first5=R. |last6=Berlind |first6=P. |last7=Hergenrother |first7=C. W. |issue=6700 |page=1 }}
• {{cite news|title=Local astronomer sets lens on public outreach|first=Arielle |last=Zionts|newspaper=Nogales International|date=July 11, 2017|url= https://www.nogalesinternational.com/news/local-astronomer-sets-lens-on-public-outreach/article_c1aa92ba-65d4-11e7-bfed-1f458c5a35ba.html}}
• {{cite journal|title=Astrometry of Near-Earth Asteroids Using Remotely-Operated Robotic Telescopes|author1-last=Holvorcem|author1-first=P. R.|author2-last=Schwartz|author2-first=M.|author3-last=Juels|author3-first=C. W.|author4-last=Breganhola|author4-first=M.|author5=Camargo|author5-first=J.|author6-last=Teixeira|author6-first=R.|journal=Astronomy in Latin America, Second Meeting on Astrometry in Latin America and Third Brazilian Meeting on Fundamental Astronomy, Held 2–5 September 2002|publisher=ADeLA Publications |volume= 1|number=1|year= 2003|pages=91–100|bibcode=2003ala..conf...91H}}
• {{citation |work=Sky & Telescope |title= Amateur comet hunters get 2013 award|first= J. Kelly |last=Beatty |date=May 15, 2014|quote=Now in its 15th year, the Edgar Wilson Award recognizes comet discoveries made by amateur observers. The 2013 awards honor seven dedicated individuals who scan the skies.}}
• {{cite book|first=David|last=Levy|date=2003|title=David Levy's Guide to Observing and Discovering Comets|publisher=Cambridge University Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2AzBYCYV9ucC&q=Tombaugh+comet&pg=PA79|isbn=978-0521520515}}
• {{citation|title=Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams, No. 3329, #1 (2012)|editor=Green, D. W. E.|date=December 2012|bibcode=2012CBET.3329....1S|ref={{harvid|Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams|2012}} |last1=Schwartz |first1=M. |last2=Holvorcem |first2=P. R. |last3=Williams |first3=G. V. |last4=Marsden |first4=C. L. |last5=Sato |first5=H. |last6=Kowalski |first6=R. A. |journal=Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams |issue=3329 |page=1 }}
• {{citation|title=Minor Planet Electronic Circular 2004-E45 : 2003 VB12|publisher=Minor Planet Center|date=March 15, 2004|url=https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K04/K04E45.html|ref={{harvid|Minor Planet Electronic Circular 2004-E45|2004}}}}
• {{cite web|url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/telescope-spots-doomed-chinese-space-194500408.html |date=March 28, 2018 |title=Telescope Spots Doomed Chinese Space Station (Photo)|first=Hanneke |last=Weitering |website=Space.com}}
• {{cite book|title=The New Amateur Astronomer|first=Martin |last=Mobberley|authorlink=Martin Mobberley|isbn=1852336633|year=2004|publisher=Springer London|quote=[S]upernova patroller Michael Schwartz, director of his private "Tenagra" Observatory in Oregon, showed the way by acquiring one of the first Paramount GT1100 [computer controlled telescope mounts] and coupling it to a Celestron 14 Optical Tube Assembly ... Michael was really the first amateur to achieve consistent supernova discoveries by using the Paramount to patrol hundreds of galaxies each night.}}
• {{cite tweet|author=Sky & Telescope magazine|title=Spotted: One Tesla Roadster in space|user=skyandtelescope|date=February 8, 2018|number=961611380246925312|ref={{harvid|Sky & Telescope|2018}}}}
• {{cite web |url= https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/2018/02/08/elon-musks-tesla-roadster-imaged-8-feb-2018/ |title= Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster imaged and filmed! |website= virtualtelescope.eu |first= Gianluca |last= Masi |author-link= Gianluca Masi |date= 2018-02-08 |access-date= 2018-02-09 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180209045535/https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/2018/02/08/elon-musks-tesla-roadster-imaged-8-feb-2018/ |archive-date= February 9, 2018 |df= mdy-all }}
• {{cite web|title=See the bus-size asteroid caught buzzing past Earth|first=Eric |last=Mack|date=March 2, 2018|publisher=CNet|url= https://www.cnet.com/science/watch-asteroid-2018-dv1-pass-earth-space-nasa/ }}

• {{citation |ref=none|title=A trio of supernova hunters|first=Martin P. |last=Mobberley|authorlink=Martin Mobberley|date=October 2004|journal=Sky & Telescope|volume=108|issue=4|page=111 |bibcode=2004S&T...108d.111M }}

• {{webarchive|title= Tenagra Observatories homepage| url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017060240/http://www.tenagraobservatories.com:80/|date=October 17, 2018}}

Category:Astronomical observatories in Arizona

Category:Buildings and structures in Lane County, Oregon

Category:Buildings and structures in Santa Cruz County, Arizona