MDM Observatory

[Photo by Ray Bertram, click for full-size] The MDM Observatory is located on the southwest ridge of Kitt Peak near Tucson, Arizona. It is jointly operated by the astronomy deparments of The Ohio State University, Dartmouth College, Columbia University, Ohio University, and The University of Michigan.

MDM operates two telescopes: the 2.4-m Hiltner Telescope and the 1.3-m McGraw-Hill telescope. Each of these telescopes are equipped with a suite of state-of-the-art optical and infrared instruments.

Ohio State has a 25% share in the MDM Observatory, amounting to approximately 90 nights per year (less summer shutdown periods) on each telescope. Time at MDM is scheduled in 6-month semesters. OSU's time is awarded competetively using an internal Time Allocation Committee.

Ohio State has provided a number of instruments for use on the MDM telescopes:

CCDS:

A Boller & Chivens visible-wavelength grating CCD Spectrometer (340-1000nm)

TIFKAM:

Infrared Imager/Spectrometer using a 512x1024 InSb (ALADDIN) array (0.9-2.5 microns).

RETROCAM:

Retractable side-port CCD camera on the 2.4m telescope for quick imaging projects.

MDM4K:

4Kx4K CCD direct imaging camera, primarily used at the 1.3m telescope imaging projects.

Buckeye Filter Wheels:

12-position automatic filter wheels for the 1.3m and 2.4m telescopes used with OSU and MDM facility CCD cameras.

OSMOS:

A wide-field multi-object low- to medium-dispersion CCD spectrometer currently being built for the 2.4m telescope (first light 2009/10).