The Byrne Observatory at Sedgwick Reserve (BOS) is a 0.8 m research-class telescope that is currently in the commissioning phase. Sedgwick has been operational since late 2009 and has been used for engineering efforts to chase out any problems with our telescope design, ongoing scientific research, and numerous outreach events.
This project was conceived in 2007 as a mechanical engineering senior class project for 4 Cal Poly students to design and build a robotic telescope mount for an existing LCO owned RC 32" OTA. The four students: JB Harmon, Derek Johnson, Brian Mueller, and John Hygelund. For more information, please see the attached newsletter, MENewsletter2010.pdf (2.1 MB).
Public outreach using BOS at Sedgwick is becoming increasingly popular, with 9 star parties in 2010, and 10 so far for 2011, and likely more on the way.
More information on the current back-end instrumentation package: Site Development at Sedgwick and the Back Parking Lot
First Science Results from Sedgwick: First Science Results From Sedgwick
First factory light: Sedgwick Telescope Sees First Factory Light
First on-site light: Sedgwick Telescope Sees First Light on Site
2011 Year End Summary of activity at Sedgwick
2012 Sedgwick Outreach Events:
Observatory Location via Google Maps
Basic Parameters:
- Primary Mirror (M1): 830 mm
- Secondary Mirror (M2): 298 mm
- F-ratio: 7.97
- Design: Ritchey-Chrétien
- Mount: equatorial fork mount
- Science cameras: SBIG 6303 and 2 off-axis SBIG 1603
- Filters: 8 (list of filters)
- UCSB student designed mirror cover soon to be installed
- Dome: 18.5' Ash Dome, Inc
- Integrated weather station with data logging
For the latest updates on outreach events, watch the news blogs.
