Lulin Observatory

The Lulin Observatory (Chinese: 鹿林天文台; pinyin: Lùlín Tiānwéntái; lit. 'Deer Forest Astronomical Observatory', obs. code: D35) is an astronomical observatory operated by the Institute of Astronomy, National Central University in Taiwan.

Lulin Observatory
OrganizationNational Central University 
Observatory code D35 
LocationNantou County, Taiwan Province, ROC
Coordinates23°28′09″N 120°52′22″E
Altitude2,862 m (9,390 ft)
Established13 January 1999 
Websitewww.lulin.ncu.edu.tw
TelescopesCassegrain reflector
Ritchey–Chrétien telescope 
Location of Lulin Observatory
Related media on Wikimedia Commons

It is located at the summit of Mount Lulin in Xinyi Township, Nantou County. In 2007, Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3), was found by this observatory, and became the first comet discovered by a Taiwanese researcher.[1] The minor planet 147918 Chiayi was also discovered here.[2]

The Lulin 1 meter had its first light in September 2002, after 10 years of development.[3]

Telescopes
  • LOT Cassegrain telescope (D=1-m, f/8)
  • SLT R-C telescope (D=0.40-m, f/8.8) by RC Optical Systems [4] or 76-cm Super Light Telescope (SLT)
  • Four TAOS robotic telescopes (D=0.50-m, f/1.9)

Projects

Lulin Sky Survey (LUSS)

The Lulin Sky Survey searched for near-Earth objects from 2006 to 2009.[5] The Lulin Sky Survey Telescope,[6] a 16-inch (41 cm) Ritchey–Chrétien telescope with a field of view of 27 arcminutes, was operated remotely from mainland China, with robotic software developed in-house.[7][8] In addition to searching for new objects, the survey refined the orbits of known minor planets and comets, and performed photometric analysis of a subset of objects.[8] The principal investigator, student Quan-Zhi Ye of Sun Yat-sen University, was awarded the 2007 Shoemaker NEO Grant to develop the project.[5] Ye later identified a comet from images collected in July 2007 by collaborator Chi Sheng Lin; the unusual retrograde comet, formally named C/2007 N3, became known as Comet Lulin. It made its closest approach to Earth in February 2009.[9] Over the course of the survey, 781 new objects were discovered, including Comet Lulin and three fragments of comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann.[8] The LUSS project benefited from its location at a longitude with few other observatories looking for minor planets.[8]

See also

References
  1. Hirsch, Max (28 July 2007). "Local star-gazer discovers comet". Taipei Times. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  2. "Minor planet officially named 'Chiayi'". Taipei Times. 17 October 2007. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  3. http://www.lulin.ncu.edu.tw/doc/lulin-poster20030416print.pdf
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Betts, Bruce (16 January 2015). "Sky survey grant helps lead to a space science career". The Planetary Society. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  6. "Lulin Observatory". Graduate Institute of Astronomy, National Central University. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  7. Yang, T.C.; Ye, Q.; Lin, H.C.; Lin, C.S.; Ip, W.H (23 April 2006). "Introduction of Lulin Sky Survey (LUSS)". National Central University. Archived from the original (slideshow) on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  8. Ye, Quanzhi; Lin, H. (September 2009). "An Overview of Lulin Sky Survey". Aas/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #41. American Astronomical Society: 34.09. Bibcode:2009DPS....41.3409Y.
  9. Rao, Joe (6 February 2009). "Newfound Comet Lulin to Grace Night Skies". Space.com. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  • W.S. Tsay, B. C. Chen, K.H. Chang, et al., 2001, “The NCU Lu-Lin Observatory”, in Proceedings of the IAU Colloquium 183 “Small-Telescope on Global Scales”, eds. W.P. Chen, C. Lemme, B. Paczynski, ASP.

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