Llano del Hato National Astronomical Observatory

The Llano del Hato National Astronomical Observatory (Spanish: OAN de Llano del Hato, or Observatorio Astronómico Nacional de Llano del Hato, code: 303) is an astronomical observatory in Venezuela. It is 3600 meters above sea level and is the country's main observatory. It is situated above the village of Llano del Hato in the Venezuelan Andes, not far from Apartaderos which lies about 50 kilometers north-east of Mérida, Mérida State.

Llano del Hato National Astronomical Observatory
Observatory code 303 
LocationMérida, Libertador Municipality, Mérida, Venezuela
Coordinates
Location of Llano del Hato National Astronomical Observatory
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Description

This facility is the closest major optical observatory to the equator lying at 8 degrees and 47.51 minutes north. It therefore has access to most parts of both the northern and southern skies. It benefits from a very dark site, and its altitude of 3,600 meters (12,000 feet) above sea level means atmospheric turbulence is greatly reduced.

The observatory is under the auspices of the Centro de Investigaciones de Astronomia (CIDA), the main astronomical research body in Venezuela. CIDA conducts many projects in collaboration with other research organizations, academic institutions and international bodies. It also conducts valuable research in its own right and has a record that includes several important discoveries.

There are four large optical telescopes, each in its own cupola or dome: a 1-m Askania Schmidt camera (one of the largest telescopes of this type in the world), a 65-cm Zeiss refractor, a 1-m Zeiss reflector and a 50-cm Askania double astrograph. These instruments were acquired by the Venezuelan government 1954 and installed at Llano del Hato in early 1955. The observatory also has a museum and exhibition centre where visitors can learn about the work of the observatory and CIDA as well as astronomy in general.

The Quasar Equatorial Survey Team (QUEST) project is a joint venture between Yale University, Indiana University, and CIDA to photographically survey the sky. It now uses the 48 inch (1.22-m) aperture Samuel Oschin telescope at the Palomar Observatory with a digital camera, an array of 112 charge-coupled devices. Previously, it used the 1.0-metre Schmidt telescope of the Llano del Hato National Astronomical Observatory.

List of discovered minor planets

At OAN de Llano del Hato, Mérida, a total of 50 minor planets have been discovered and credited to the astronomers Orlando Naranjo, Jürgen Stock, Ignacio Ferrín and Carlos Leal:[1]

9357 Venezuela11 January 1992list [A]
(9605) 1992 AP311 January 1992list [A]
(10344) 1992 CA212 February 1992list [A][B]
(11089) 1994 CS88 February 1994list [A]
11193 Mérida11 December 1998list [A]
12359 Cajigal22 September 1993list [A]
12360 Unilandes22 September 1993list [A]
12366 Luisapla8 February 1994list [A]
12367 Ourinhos8 February 1994list [A]
12758 Kabudari22 September 1993list [A]
(14005) 1993 SO322 September 1993list [A]
(14918) 1994 BP421 January 1994list [A]
15050 Heddal12 December 1998list [A]
15453 Brasileirinhos12 December 1998list [A]
(16565) 1992 CZ112 February 1992list [A][B]
16645 Aldalara22 September 1993list [A]
17494 Antaviana11 January 1992list [A]
(17873) 1998 XO9611 December 1998list [A]
(23501) 1992 CK112 February 1992list [A][B]
(29691) 1998 XH9611 December 1998list [A]
(29692) 1998 XE9711 December 1998list [A]
(31384) 1998 XE9611 December 1998list [A]
(31385) 1998 XF9611 December 1998list [A]
(35678) 1998 XW9611 December 1998list [A]
38628 Huya10 March 2000list [C]
(48565) 1994 CA98 February 1994list [A]
(49430) 1998 XZ9611 December 1998list [A]
(56065) 1998 XB9712 December 1998list [A]
(59151) 1998 XK9612 December 1998list [A]
(66189) 1998 XA9712 December 1998list [A]
74400 Streaky11 December 1998list [A]
79864 Pirituba11 December 1998list [A]
79889 Maloka8 January 1999list [A]
(91210) 1998 XS9611 December 1998list [A]
(96609) 1999 AQ359 January 1999list [A]
(120997) 1998 XT9611 December 1998list [A]
127870 Vigo24 March 2003list [C][D]
128166 Carora27 August 2003list [C][D]
(137096) 1998 XG9711 December 1998list [A]
149528 Simónrodríguez24 March 2003list [C][D]
159776 Eduardoröhl2 May 2003list [C][D]
161278 Cesarmendoza24 March 2003list [C][D]
189310 Polydamas3 January 2006list [C]
196476 Humfernandez2 May 2003list [C][D]
201497 Marcelroche2 May 2003list [C][D]
(237422) 1999 AF359 January 1999list [A]
347940 Jorgezuluaga30 March 2003list [C][D]
366272 Medellín30 March 2003list [C][D]
(368628) 2004 UJ1020 October 2004list [E]
(423624) 2005 WZ15627 November 2005list [C]
Co-discovery made with:
A O. A. Naranjo
B J. Stock
C I. R. Ferrín
D C. Leal
 E anomaly in MPC's data base as discovery observation was made by A84 in Turkey

References
  1. "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 11 June 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
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