Badlands Observatory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Badlands Observatory |
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Organization | Badlands Observatory LLC | ||||
Code | 918 | ||||
Location | Quinn, South Dakota, US | ||||
Coordinates
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43°59′27″N 102°7′51″W / 43.99083°N 102.13083°W
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Website www.badlandsobservatory.com[1] |
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The Badlands Observatory (IAU code 918) is an astronomical observatory named after the Badlands National Park, located in Quinn, South Dakota, near the city of Wall, United States. The observatory was founded in 2000. by American amateur astronomer Ron Dyvig, who was associated with the Optical Sciences Center and Steward Observatory of the University of Arizona. While there, he occasionally participated in observing runs using the telescopes on Kitt Peak. As of November 2016, a total of 25 numbered minor planets were discovered at the observatory. The Minor Planet Center credits these discoveries to Ron Dyvig and to the observatory, respectively. The main-belt asteroid (315495) 2008 AQ3 was discovered by Italian amateur astronomer Fabrizio Tozzi while using the Badlands Observatory telescope remotely via the Internet in 2008. Asteroid 26715 South Dakota, discovered by Ron Dyvig in 2001, is named after the U.S. state South Dakota, where the Badlands observatory is located.
When the observatory opened in a former medical facility, the town of Quinn installed hoods over the street lights to reduce light pollution.
List of discovered minor planets
The Minor Planet Center credits the discovery of the following minor planets directly to the Badlands Observatory:
(26715) South Dakota | 16 April 2001 | list |
(51570) Phendricksen | 17 April 2001 | list |
(51772) Sparker | 16 June 2001 | list |
(54720) Kentstevens | 15 May 2001 | list |
(63528) Kocherhans | 13 August 2001 | list |
(82361) 2001 MV6 | 23 June 2001 | list |
(94291) Django | 21 February 2001 | list |
(134973) 2001 FA | 16 March 2001 | list |
(160882) 2001 PC29 | 15 August 2001 | list |
(208349) 2001 RX10 | 11 September 2001 | list |
(220245) 2002 XR45 | 10 December 2002 | list |
(222433) 2001 QB | 16 August 2001 | list |
(241780) 2001 OK | 17 July 2001 | list |
(252591) 2001 XO1 | 9 December 2001 | list |
(315495) 2008 AQ3 | 10 January 2008 | list |
See also
- List of asteroid-discovering observatories
- List of astronomical observatories
- List of minor planet discoverers § Discovering dedicated institutions
- List of observatory codes