Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is a research institute of the Smithsonian Institution, concentrating on astrophysical studies including galactic and extragalactic astronomy, cosmology, solar, earth and planetary sciences, theory and instrumentation, using observations at wavelengths from the highest energy gamma rays to the radio, along with gravitational waves.  Established in Washington, D.C., in 1890, the SAO moved its headquarters in 1955 to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where its research is a collaboration with the Harvard College Observatory (HCO) and the Harvard University Department of Astronomy. In 1973, the Smithsonian and Harvard formalized the collaboration as the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) under a single Director.

The exterior of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, which is part of the Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

History
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) on the South Yard of the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C., in 1909. In 1973, SAO moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts and unified with the Harvard College Observatory to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

Samuel Pierpont Langley, the third Secretary of the Smithsonian, founded the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory on the south yard of the Smithsonian Castle (on the U.S. National Mall) on March 1,1890. The Astrophysical Observatory's initial, primary purpose was to "record the amount and character of the Sun's heat[1]". Charles Greeley Abbot was named SAO's first director, and the observatory operated solar telescopes to take daily measurements of the Sun's intensity in different regions of the optical electromagnetic spectrum. In doing so, the observatory enabled Abbot to make critical refinements to the Solar constant, as well as to serendipitously discover Solar variability. It is likely that SAO's early history as a solar observatory was part of the inspiration behind the Smithsonian's "sunburst" logo, designed in 1965 by Crimilda Pontes.[2]

In 1955, the scientific headquarters of SAO moved from Washington, D.C. to Cambridge, Massachusetts to affiliate with the Harvard College Observatory (HCO).[1] Fred Lawrence Whipple, then the chairman of the Harvard Astronomy Department, was named the new director of SAO. The collaborative relationship between SAO and HCO therefore predates the official creation of the CfA by 18 years. SAO's move to Harvard's campus also resulted in a rapid expansion of its research program. Following the launch of Sputnik (the world's first human-made satellite) in 1957, SAO accepted a national challenge[3] to create a worldwide satellite-tracking network, collaborating with the United States Air Force on Project Space Track.

With the creation of NASA the following year and throughout the space race, SAO led major efforts in the development of orbiting observatories and large ground-based telescopes, laboratory and theoretical astrophysics, as well as the application of computers to astrophysical problems.

Remote stations

SAO has operated a number of remote stations over the years.[4][5]

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Station Type Latitude Longitude El. (m) Opened Closed Coordinates
Mount Wilson, California Solar 34º13'N 118º56'W 1737 1908 1920 34°13′N 118°56′W
Hump Mountain, North Carolina Solar 36º8'N 82º0'W 1500 1917 1918 36°8′N 82°0′W
Calama, Chile Solar 22º28'S 68º56'W 2250 1918 1920 22°28′S 68°56′W
Mount Montezuma, Chile Solar 22º40'S 68º56'W 2711 1920 ? 22°40′S 68°56′W
Mount Harquahala, Arizona Solar 33º48'N 113º20'W 1721 1920 1925 33°48′N 113°20′W
Table Mountain, California Solar 34º22'N 117º41'W 2286 1925 1962 34°22′N 117°41′W
Mount Brukkaros, Namibia Solar 25º52'S 17º48'E 1586 1926 1931 25°52′S 17°48′E
Mount Saint Catherine, Egypt Solar 28º31'N 33º56'E 2591 1934 1937 28°31′N 33°56′E
Burro Mountain, New Mexico Solar 32º40'N 108º33'W 2440 1938 1946 32°40′N 108°33′W
Organ Pass, New Mexico Space Track 32º25'N 253º27'E 32°25′N 106°33′W
Olifantsfontein, South Africa Space Track 25º58'S 28º15'E 25°58′S 28°15′E
Woomera, Australia Space Track 31º06'S 136º46'E 31°06′S 136°46′E
Cadiz, Spain Space Track 36º28'N 353º48'E 36°28′N 6°12′W
Shiraz, Iran Space Track 29º38'N 52º31'E 29°38′N 52°31′E
Curaçao, Netherlands West Indies Space Track 12º05'N 291º10'E 12°05′N 68°50′W
Jupiter, Florida Space Track 27º01'N 279º53'E 27°01′N 80°07′W
Haleakala, Hawaii Space Track 20º43'N 203º45'E 20°43′N 156°15′W
Villa Dolores, Argentina Space Track 31º57'S 294º54'E 31°57′S 65°06′W
Mitaka, Japan Space Track
Nani Tal, India Space Track
Arequipa, Peru Solar,
Space Track
Oak Ridge Observatory

The SAO today

Currently, more than 300 scientists at the CfA are engaged in a broad program of research in astronomy, astrophysics, earth and space sciences, and science education.

SAO's pioneering efforts in the development of orbiting observatories and large ground-based telescopes, the application of computers to astrophysical problems, and the integration of laboratory measurements, theoretical astrophysics, and observations across the electromagnetic spectrum have contributed much to our current understanding of the universe.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory is managed and operated by SAO from Cambridge. With the University of Arizona, SAO also manages the MMT Observatory.

Directors

References
  1. DeVorkin, David H. (2018). Fred Whipple's Empire: The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, 1955-1973. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.
  2. Anonymous (2020-03-24). "Crimilda Pontes: The Original Designer of the Smithsonian Sunburst". Smithsonian Institution Archives. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  3. Spiller, James (2015). "Rising to the Sputnik Challenge". In Spiller, James (ed.). Frontiers for the American Century. Frontiers for the American Century: Outer Space, Antarctica, and Cold War Nationalism. Palgrave Studies in the History of Science and Technology. Palgrave Macmillan US. pp. 21–64. doi:10.1057/9781137507877_2. ISBN 978-1-137-50787-7.
  4. Wright, F. W.; Hodge, P. W. (1965). "The Volcanic Dust Sampling Program of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observing Stations". SAO Special Report #172 (1965). 172: 172. Bibcode:1965SAOSR.172.....W.
  5. Roosen, Robert G.; Angione, Ronald J. (1977). "Variations in Atmospheric Water Vapor: Baseline Results from Smithsonian Observations". Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 89: 814. Bibcode:1977PASP...89..814R. doi:10.1086/130233.
  6. "SAO Directors: 1834 - Present". Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  7. "Charles Alcock Named Director of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics". Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Retrieved 2015-09-17.

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