TENAGRA OVERVIEW AND SERVICES
Since 2001 we have made an unprecedented move in the world of professional telescopes. Tenagra Observatories is offering time on its 0.81-m (32") automated system to academic institutions. The Tenagra II telescope is the most efficient automated telescope in the world. This was the first telescope time offering of its kind.
Tenagra Observatories is a complex of privately owned telescopes in S. Arizona. Tenagra already has had research partnerships with Lick Observatory, USNO, CalTech, Wesleyan, U. of N. Carolina and many other top institutions. Tenagra is well known for its photometric studies and supernovae/minor planet (MPC code 926) discoveries. The observatory complex has two telescopes currently offering time: 0.81-m (32") f/7 Ritchey-Chretien and 0.41-m (16") f/3.75 astrograph. They are 100% automated, data is taken unattended and immediately provided to users for real-time FTP download.
The Tenagra site was chosen specifically for its excellent seeing averaged over the S. Arizona observing season from September 15 to June 15. The typical night has 2" FWHM seeing. The site has virtually 100% coverage of the skies at longitude west 110° 52’ 44.8", latitude +31° 27’ 44.4", altitude 1,312m (4,306 feet). The site is in the Sonora desert and in close proximity with Mt. Hopkins, Kitt Peak and other major observatories. Typical humidity is less than 25% and quite often single digits.
Advantages of Using the a Tenagra Telescope
No on-site problems.
Tenagra handles all telescope maintenance.
Always have the
seeing and weather conditions of southern Arizona.
No need to reverse
your schedule. Reduce your data the next day without having stayed up the
night before.
Considering that the Tenagra II telescope goes to ~ magnitude 22 (see below) in a single 5-minute unfiltered exposure, hundreds of faint NEOs are accessible to observation on any given night, and many tens can be observed on a given night. This includes all objects newly found by the big NEO surveys and listed on the NEO Confirmation Page. Similarly, quite a few TNOs are also readily accessible to the 32" telescope on any given night. A complete UBVRI series of a galaxy can easily be accomplished in 60 minutes of exposure time.
Your data is held in the STRICTEST CONFIDENTIALITY and is owned by you, not Tenagra Observatories or anyone else. We understand the importance of your research program and its results. We only request that if you publish results based on the use of a Tenagra Observatory telescope that you provide a citation to this effect.
We expect that available time on this remarkable instrument will not last long and preference will be given to those institutions or individuals who can make longer time commitments. Special introductory rates are available for those who wish to purchase telescope shares. Click here for costs.
0.81-m Tenagra II (32") Telescope Specifications
.
This is Tenagra Observatories’ flagship telescope. It is an f/7 Ritchey-Chretien. The science camera is SITe based 1024 X 1024 X 24u liquid heat removal yielding ~0.87" per pixel. Field of view is ~14.8 X 14.8 arc minutes. Chip temperature is maintained at a constant –35° C. year round. Even more remarkable, exposures of up to 600s can be taken without need for guiding thereby saving enormous amounts of telescope time that would be dedicated to guide star acquisition. A highly accurate automated refocus occurs with every telescope slew.
0.41-m Tenagra III (16") Telescope Specifications
This is Tenagra Observatories’ newest telescope. It is an f/3.75 astrograph. The science camera is Kodak 16801 based 4096 X 4096 X 9u yielding 1.3" per pixel, and a total field of view of 2.19º square.. Field of view is 1.48 X 1.48 degrees. Chip temperature is maintained at a constant –35° C. year round. A highly accurate automated refocus occurs with every telescope slew. This telescope is excellent for large field photometry, minor planet/comet discovery and recovery and taking beautiful pictures of extended objects.
Photometric Specifications
Filters at Tenagra are the best available. All are Johnson/Cousins, Bessel prescription. Yes, there is room if you wish to add your 50mm filter(s).
[Click Here For A Measured Transmission Graph of Tenagra II Filters]
[What's New?] [Telescope Overview and Service] [Who Are We?] [Telescope Sites] [Supernovae & Other Discoveries] [Feedback] [Web Site Search] [Links] [Contact Us]