 MDM Hiltner 2.4 m Telescope | |
| Alternative names | MDM Observatory |
|---|---|
| Organization | |
| Observatory code | 697 |
| Location | Kitt Peak, Arizona, US |
| Coordinates | 31°57′06″N111°36′58″W / 31.9517°N 111.616°W /31.9517; -111.616 |
| Telescopes |
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  Location of MDM Observatory | |
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 Related media on Commons | |
TheMDM Observatory (Michigan-Dartmouth-MIT Observatory;obs. code:697) is anoptical astronomicalobservatory located adjacent toKitt Peak National Observatory onKitt Peak, west ofTucson, Arizona, in the United States. It is owned and operated by theUniversity of Michigan,Dartmouth College,Ohio State University,Columbia University, andOhio University. TheMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was also part of the operating consortium in the past.
It has tworeflecting telescopes, the 2.4-meter (95 inches apertureHiltner Telescope (since 1986), used for galactic surveys, and the 1.3-meter (50 inch diameter aperture)McGraw–Hill Telescope (since 1975), which was originally located nearAnn Arbor, Michigan.[1]
The mirror of the 2.4-meter Hiltner Telescope is aluminum-coatedCer-Vit, and usable foci include f/7.5 and f/13.5 Cassegrain foci.[2] The telescope was built in 1986 and the mirrors were re-polished in 1991.[3] It was named after astronomerW. Albert Hiltner (1914-1991).[4]
The Hiltner was one of the telescopes that observed the "turn on" transient of a galactic nucleus, along with theSwift space telescope (aka Neil GehrelsSwift Observatory since 2018) and theGemini observatory (8 meter ground observatory).[5] The transient event was called PS1-13cbe and was located in the Galaxy SDSS J222153.87+003054.2.[5]
The 1.3-meterMcGraw-Hill Telescope, with a 1.27-meter clear aperture, is an aluminum-coated Cer-Vit (low thermal expansion glass) telescope. Its usable foci include f/7.5 and f/13.5.[6] The telescope was originally installed at Stinchfield Woods, Michigan in 1969, and moved in 1975 to MDM.[1]
The asteroid4432 McGraw-Hill is named after this telescope. It was discovered on March 2, 1981 bySchelte J. Bus atSiding Spring in the course of theUK Schmidt-Caltech Asteroid Survey. On February 18, 1992, theInternational Astronomical Union officially assigned the name "McGraw-Hill" to the asteroid. The text of the citation, as officially published by IAU Commission 20 (M.P.C. 19697),[7] is as follows:[8]
Named after the 1.3 m McGraw-Hill telescope located on the southwestern ridge ofKitt Peak,Arizona, which was the site for the first physical observations for this minor planet. The telescope is operated by a consortium comprising theUniversity of Michigan,Dartmouth College, and theMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Originally erected atStinchfield Woods nearDexter, Michigan, in July 1969, the telescope was moved to its current location in 1975 through the generous financial support ofMcGraw-Hill Incorporated and theSloan Foundation. Name proposed and citation provided byRichard P. Binzel.
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