ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
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Astronomical Research Observatory
30 inch, 32 inch and 24 inch observatories at the Astronomical Research Observatory
30 Inch (0.76m) Robotic AutoScope
50 Inch (1.3m) Astro-Research Robotic Telescope
16 inch telescope is no longer in service
50 Inch Observatory Completed July 28th 2011
From the left, 30 inch, 50 inch, 32 inch and 24 inch observatory
50 Inch Observatory Open
Photo by John Stone
Photo of the Astronomical Research Observatory
In 2009 ARO moved their instrumentation to a darker site 12 miles west of the former location near Charleston, IL. The new location is a 40 acre farm at Westfield, IL with only 3 pole lights visible from the property. This has enhanced the limiting magnitude of our instrumentation by about 0.9 magnitudes during periods of new moon. A light pollution map shows the former location and the new darker site with dramatic differences in the amount of darkness. Mike Lockwood measured 21.55 magnitudes per square arc/sec with a Sky Quality Meter and 6.3 magnitude stars have been observed during new moon 45 degrees above the horizon. In the photo above, the observatories are seen to the far right. The building on the far right houses a custom designed 24" carbon fiber Astro-Research Optical Tube Assembly on a fully robotic Software Bisque Paramount ME. The building in the center contains the 32 inch (0.81M) fully robotic Astro-Research telescope. The small building on the left contains a 30 inch (0.76-m) Auto-Scope. A 50" observatory has been completed and resides between the 30 inch and 32 inch observatories in the above photo. All telescopes are operated remotely in a control room on the lower level of the house located on the property. A 50 inch telescope is currently under construction in the workshop in the large building in the center of the photo. This instrument is expected to see first light at the beginning of 2012.
The 32 Inch Telescope Move to Westfield
32 Inch telescope removed from the old observatory
32 Inch telescope at the new location on a trailer
32 Inch telescope being lowered into the new observatory
32 Inch telescope resting on the concrete pier
Three Observatories at ARO