The Astronomical Observatory of Mallorca ( es, Observatorio Astronómico de Mallorca, OAM) is an observatory just south of Costitx, Mallorca,

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. The observatory was inaugurated in May 1991 and was the first astronomical center in the Balearic Islands

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and

province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

of Spain. The observatory is a pioneer among Spanish observatories and uses

robotic telescope A robotic telescope is an astronomical telescope and detector system that makes observations without the intervention of a human. In astronomical disciplines, a telescope qualifies as robotic if it makes those observations without being operated ...

s (four of them located at

La Sagra La Sagra is a Castilian comarca delineated by natural formations but not legally recognized. The comarca includes localities belonging to both the province of Madrid and the province of Toledo. La Sagra covers an area of 1322 km2, and is bordered ...

Observatorio Astronómico de La Sagra
Observatorio de La Sagra
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Andalucia Andalusia (, ; es, Andalucía ) is the southernmost autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. It is officially recognised as a "historical nationality". The ...

) to discover and track asteroids. Researchers at the OAM have found asteroids that are potential threats to

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...

, such as the . Salvador Sánchez is director of the OAM. In 2008, asteroid number 128036, discovered at the OAM in 2003, was named after Spanish tennis player

Rafael Nadal Rafael Nadal Parera (, ; born 3 June 1986) is a Spanish professional tennis player. He is currently ranked world No. 2 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). He has been ranked world No. 1 for 209 weeks, and has finish ...

. As of 2008, the OAM tracks more than 2,000 asteroids. There is a large planetarium attached to the observatory, which often runs performances open to the public. The

Open University The Open University (OU) is a British public research university and the largest university in the United Kingdom by number of students. The majority of the OU's undergraduate students are based in the United Kingdom and principally study off- ...

is one of a number of academic institutions which runs summer schools at the observatory.Observing the Universe
''Open University'' – Course content, Summary In March 2017, the observatory has closed and gone into liquidation. The land will be up for auction at €1.7 million.

List of discovered minor planets

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Observatorio Astronomico de Mallorca Astronomical observatories in Spain Buildings and structures in Mallorca * Space Situational Awareness Programme

List of discovered minor planets

See also

References

External links