West Mountain Observatory

West Mountain Observatory

Organization	Brigham Young University
Location	West Mountain
Coordinates	40.08741°N 111.82604°W / 40.08741; -111.82604
Altitude	2,120 meters (6,960 ft)
Established	1981 (1981)
Website	West Mountain Observatory
Telescopes
unnamed telescope 0.9 m reflector unnamed telescope 0.5 m reflector unnamed telescope 0.3 m reflector
Location of West Mountain Observatory

West Mountain Observatory (WMO) is an astronomical observatory located on West Mountain near the community of West Mountain, Utah United States, about 22 km (14 miles) southwest of Provo. The observatory is owned and operated by Brigham Young University (BYU), and opened in 1981 after increasing light pollution reduced the utility of the Orson Pratt Observatory on the BYU campus.^[1] The first year of observing with the new 0.9 m telescope included imaging of intrinsic variable stars and high-mass X-ray binaries.^[2] Past research topics include light curve analysis of Delta Scuti variable stars and identifying pre-main-sequence stars by searching for H-alpha emitting objects.^[3][4]

Telescopes

• A 0.9 m (35 in) reflecting telescope built by DFM Engineering was installed at WMO in 2009. The main dome originally housed a 0.6 m reflector built by Tinsley Laboratories.^[5]
• A 0.5 m (20 in) reflector is housed in its own dome on a robotic telescope mount.^[6]
• A 0.3 m (12 in) reflector is housed in its own dome on a robotic telescope mount.^[7]

See also

• Willard L. Eccles Observatory
• List of astronomical observatories

References

1. "West Mountain Observatory". Brigham Young University Department of Physics and Astronomy. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
2. Joner, Michael D.; Hintz, E. G.; Laney, C. D.; Moody, J. W. (2011). "A Summary of the First Year of Observations from the West Mountain Observatory 0.9-meter Telescope". American Astronomical Society. 217: 15713. Bibcode:2011AAS...21715713J.
3. Joner, Michael D.; Iverson, E. P.; Jolley, J. W.; Joner, L. A.; Swenson, C. A. (2007). "A Light Curve and Period Analysis of AE Ursae Majoris, CY Aquarii, and DY Pegasi". American Astronomical Society. 211: 846. Bibcode:2007AAS...211.6017J.
4. Evanko, L. R.; Joner, M. D. (2004). "An H Alpha Survey of Young Open Clusters for PMS Objects". American Astronomical Society Meeting 204. 204: 775. Bibcode:2004AAS...204.6217E.
5. "West Mountain 0.9-m Telescope". Brigham Young University Department of Physics and Astronomy. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
6. "West Mountain 0.5-m Telescope". Brigham Young University Department of Physics and Astronomy. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
7. "West Mountain 0.3-m Telescope". Brigham Young University Department of Physics and Astronomy. Retrieved 2011-01-14.

External links

• Department of Physics and Astronomy at BYU
• West Mountain Observatory website More detailed information about WMO and some cool pictures.
• West Mountain Clear Sky Chart Forecasts of observing conditions at WMO.