Red Buttes Observatory (RBO) is an
astronomical
Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxies, ...
observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. H ...
owned and operated by
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming (UW) is a public land-grant research university in Laramie, Wyoming. It was founded in March 1886, four years before the territory was admitted as the 44th state, and opened in September 1887. The University of Wyomin ...
. It is located south of
Laramie,
Wyoming
Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to the sou ...
(USA) and was founded in 1994.
The observatory houses a telescope built by
DFM Engineering. There are two instruments available: a 1024x1024 imaging camera, and a
near-infrared
Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from around ...
camera.
A second, smaller telescope built by
Orion is mounted on the main telescope.
Research at the observatory has included monitoring
Cepheid variable stars
A Cepheid variable () is a type of star that pulsates radially, varying in both diameter and temperature and producing changes in brightness with a well-defined stable period and amplitude.
A strong direct relationship between a Cepheid varia ...
and follow-up observation of
gamma-ray bursts
In gamma-ray astronomy, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are immensely energetic explosions that have been observed in distant galaxies. They are the most energetic and luminous electromagnetic events since the Big Bang. Bursts can last from ten millis ...
.
See also
*
Wyoming Infrared Observatory
The Wyoming Infrared Observatory (WIRO) is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by the University of Wyoming. It is located on Jelm Mountain, southwest of Laramie, Wyoming, U.S. It was founded in 1975, and observations began at the s ...
*
List of astronomical observatories
This is a list of astronomical observatories ordered by name, along with initial dates of operation (where an accurate date is available) and location. The list also includes a final year of operation for many observatories that are no longer in ...
*
Red Buttes, Wyoming
The Buttes is an unincorporated community in Albany County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 31 at the 2000 census, when it was a census-designated place (CDP).
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2000 the CD ...
References
External links
Red Buttes Observatoryat the University of Wyoming
for RBO: forecasts of observing conditions.
Astronomical observatories in Wyoming
Buildings and structures in Albany County, Wyoming
University of Wyoming
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