Organization | University of Calgary | ||||||
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Location | near Priddis, Alberta | ||||||
Coordinates | 50°52′06″N 114°17′28″W / 50.8684°N 114.2910°WCoordinates: 50°52′06″N 114°17′28″W / 50.8684°N 114.2910°W | ||||||
Altitude | 1,269 metres (4,163 ft) | ||||||
Established | 1972 | ||||||
Website | www |
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Telescopes | |||||||
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A.R. Cross Telescope | 1.8 m reflector |
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Baker-Nunn Telescope | 0.5 m reflector |
Clark-Milone Telescope | 0.4 m reflector |
The Rothney Astrophysical Observatory (RAO) is an astronomical observatory located near the hamlet of Priddis, Alberta, Canada, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) southwest of Calgary. The observatory is owned and operated by the University of Calgary (UC), and was dedicated in 1972. The facility is used for research, undergraduate and graduate teaching, and public outreach. Research performed at the RAO included a variable star search program, follow-up observations of variable star discoveries, and detailed investigation of binary stars. An outstanding minor planet search program was also performed with comet discoveries by Rob Cardinal. The RAO now participates in many follow-up observation programs, including the Quark Nova project.