The Mont Mégantic Observatory (french: Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic; OMM) is an astronomical

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 jointly by the Université de Montréal (UdeM), and the Université Laval (ULaval). Founded in 1978, the observatory houses the second largest telescope in Eastern Canada after David Dunlap Observatory near Toronto. It is situated at the summit of Mont Mégantic, the highest point of Eastern Canada accessible by car. OMM is about east of Sherbrooke and east of Montreal. The asteroid 4843 Mégantic is named for the observatory.

Telescope

The Ritchey-Chrétien telescope is equipped with a complement of modern instruments. Imaging,

spectroscopy Spectroscopy is the field of study that measures and interprets the electromagnetic spectra that result from the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and matter as a function of the wavelength or frequency of the radiation. Matter wa ...

, and polarimetry are routinely conducted at both visible and infrared wavelengths.

Light pollution

Efforts to control local light pollution, about one-quarter of which is due to the nearby city of Sherbrooke, have led to the establishment of the world's first

International Dark-Sky Association The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is a United States-based non-profit organization incorporated in 1988 by founders David Crawford, a professional astronomer, and Tim Hunter, a physician/amateur astronomer. The mission of the IDA is " ...

(IDA)

Dark Sky preserve A dark-sky preserve (DSP) is an area, usually surrounding a park or observatory, that restricts artificial light pollution. The purpose of the dark-sky movement is generally to promote astronomy. However, astronomy is certainly not the only ob ...

around the observatory, covering some 5500 square km (2123 square miles).

ASTROLab

ASTROLab is an astronomy activity centre operate by the Parc national du Mont-Mégantic. There are interactive displays about the history of the Universe, the Earth and life. Visitor can take guided daytime tours of ASTROLab and the Mount Megantic Observatory. There are also astronomy evenings, an astronomy festival, and the Perseid Festival.

Solar eclipse of April 8th 2024

The observatory is near the center path of totality of the solar eclipse of April 8, 2024.

References

External links