+ Minor planets discovered: 38 see
The Oak Ridge Observatory (ORO, code: 801), also known as the George R. Agassiz Station, is located at 42 Pinnacle Road, Harvard, Massachusetts. It was operated by the Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian as a facility of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) from 1933 until August 19, 2005.
Description
The observatory was established in 1933. Through its first 40 years, its primary research focus was on tracking minor planets and asteroids in the Solar System. Starting in the 1980s, astronomers began to use the facility to measure stars over long periods of time, which led to hunts for extrasolar planets.
The largest telescope east of Texas in the United States is the 61-inch reflector (see Hobby-Eberly Telescope). However, most of its projects were discontinued in 2005. Harvard University's Optical SETI program continues at the site.
It also housed an steerable radio telescope once used in Project BETA, a search for extraterrestrial intelligence. A 41-cm (16-inch) Boller and Chivens Cassegrain reflector originally housed at Oak Ridge is available for public use at the National Air and Space Museum's Public Observatory Project on the National Mall in Washington, DC.NASM AirSpace Blog, March 29, 2009. and NASM Public Observatory Project
The inner main-belt asteroid 4733 ORO, discovered at Oak Ridge in 1982, was named in honor of the observatory.
List of discovered minor planets
In addition to the discoveries below, the Minor Planet Center inconsistently credits some asteroids such as 4760 Jia-xiang directly to the Harvard College Observatory although they have been discovered at Oak Ridge.
2674 Pandarus 27 January 1982 2872 Gentelec 5 September 1981 3076 Garber 13 September 1982 3342 Fivesparks 27 January 1982 3773 Smithsonian 23 December 1984 3797 Ching-Sung Yu 22 December 1987 4372 Quincy 3 October 1984 4733 ORO 19 April 1982 5976 Kalatajean 25 September 1992 6696 Eubanks 1 September 1986 6949 Zissell 11 September 1982 7276 Maymie 4 September 1983 7383 Lassovszky 30 September 1981 7386 Paulpellas 25 November 1981 7461 Kachmokiam 3 October 1984 7639 Offutt 21 February 1985 7738 Heyman 24 November 1981 7940 Erichmeyer 13 March 1991 8161 Newman 19 August 1990 8357 O'Connor 25 September 1989 8496 Jandlsmith 16 August 1990 9179 Satchmo 13 March 1991 9291 Alanburdick 17 August 1982 9929 McConnell 24 February 1982 10289 Geoffperry 24 August 1984 10290 Kettering 17 September 1985 12223 Hoskin 8 October 1983 12224 Jimcornell 19 October 1984 2 August 1992 22 November 1995 8 September 1991 5 December 1986 16 October 1990 7 December 1988 13 August 1985 24 August 1984 5 September 1983 13 September 1982
See also Harvard University seismograph station Hobby–Eberly Telescope
List of astronomical observatories Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
References
Further reading
External links
Oak Ridge Observatory Slacker Astronomy: Optical SETI at Harvard's Oak Ridge – via YouTube Harvard Optical SETI The Boston Globe: "Lights out", June 28, 2005