Farpoint Observatory is an
astronomical
Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxies ...
observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. His ...
owned and operated by the ''Northeast Kansas Amateur Astronomers' League'', or
NEKAAL NEKAAL is the Northeast Kansas Amateur Astronomers' League, a non-profit educational and scientific organization founded 1978 and based in Topeka, Kansas. NEKAAL and its members specialize in educational outreach to surrounding counties, and in disc ...
. It is located on the grounds of
Mission Valley High School at
Eskridge, near
Auburn, Kansas, approximately southwest of
Topeka
Topeka ( ; Kansa: ; iow, Dópikˀe, script=Latn or ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the seat of Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeast Kansas, in the Central Uni ...
,
Kansas
Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...
, United States.
Summary
Farpoint Observatory is
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union (IAU; french: link=yes, Union astronomique internationale, UAI) is a nongovernmental organisation with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreac ...
(IAU) observatory code
734, and is home to the Farpoint Asteroid Search Team (FAST), which has an international reputation having discovered more than 330 non-NEO (Near Earth Orbit)
asteroids
An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere.
...
in addition to many in NEO orbits. As of January 1, 2014, Farpoint observers had contributed more than minor planet observations to the
IAU
The International Astronomical Union (IAU; french: link=yes, Union astronomique internationale, UAI) is a nongovernmental organisation with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreach ...
Minor Planet Center
The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Founded in 1947, it operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.
Function
...
.
NEKAAL received a $56,060 grant from
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...
's
Near Earth Object
A near-Earth object (NEO) is any small Solar System body whose orbit brings it into proximity with Earth. By convention, a Solar System body is a NEO if its closest approach to the Sun (perihelion) is less than 1.3 astronomical units (AU). ...
s (NEO) tracking program to acquire and install at Farpoint the Pitt telescope from Lindley Hall,
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. Tw ...
.
After full refurbishment, the
telescope
A telescope is a device used to observe distant objects by their emission, absorption, or reflection of electromagnetic radiation. Originally meaning only an optical instrument using lenses, curved mirrors, or a combination of both to observe ...
now measures 27 inches in aperture (primary mirror diameter), 9 feet 3 inches in length, with weight of 1,600 pounds (725 kg).
The main-belt asteroid
23989 Farpoint, discovered by amateur astronomers
Gary Hug
Gary Hug is an American amateur astronomer and a prolific discoverer of minor planets, who, along with Graham E. Bell, operates the Farpoint Observatory and Sandlot Observatory in Kansas, United States.
He is the co-discoverer of comet 178P/H ...
and
Graham E. Bell at Farpoint in 1999, was named for the observatory.
List of discovered minor planets
See also
*
Dan Tibbets
This is a list of minor-planet discoverers credited by the Minor Planet Center with the discovery of one or several minor planets (such as near-Earth and main-belt asteroids, Jupiter trojans and distant objects). , the discovery of 612,011 nu ...
*
List of asteroid-discovering observatories
The list of asteroid-discovering observatories contains a section for each observatory which has discovered one or more asteroids, along with a list of those asteroids.
For each numbered asteroid, the Minor Planet Center lists one or more dis ...
*
List of astronomical observatories
This is a list of astronomical observatories ordered by name, along with initial dates of operation (where an accurate date is available) and location. The list also includes a final year of operation for many observatories that are no longer in ...
*
*
List of observatory codes
This is a list of observatory codes (IAU codes or MPC codes) published by the Minor Planet Center. For a detailed description, ''see observations of small Solar System bodies''.
List
References
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Observatory codes
*
Astrono ...
References
External links
NEKAAL Site:Farpoint ObservatoryFarpoint Observatory enclosure (image)
NEKAAL observer blog
{{Portal bar, Kansas, Astronomy, Stars, Spaceflight, Outer space, Solar System, Education, Science
Astronomical observatories in Kansas
Buildings and structures in Wabaunsee County, Kansas
Education in Wabaunsee County, Kansas
Minor-planet discovering observatories
Tourist attractions in Wabaunsee County, Kansas