Catalina Station

The Catalina station (CS), also known as Steward Observatory Catalina Station, is an astronomical observatory and is located in 2518 m altitude on the summit of Mount Bigelow in the Santa Catalina Mountains about 28 km ( 17 mi) northeast of Tucson in the U.S. state Arizona. The plant in the Coronado National Forest is operated with an exemption from the U.S. Forest Service through the Steward Observatory of the University of Arizona.

History of the Observatory

The location of the Catalina Station was founded in 1960 by Gerard P. Kuiper selected the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory ( LPL ) of the University of Arizona. He was convinced that a slightly elevated location, location is more suitable than the alternative site at Kitt Peak National Observatory for the projects of LPL; and Mount Bigelow was both higher and from the campus of the University of Arizona from across the Catalina Highway within easy reach. The construction began in late 1962 and the first instrument, a 54 - cm reflecting telescope, the beginning of 1963 went into operation. At this time, the system resulted in the name Catalina Observatory. The first telescope was the plant CS Site I and was completed by a 70 - cm-inch reflecting telescope at about 500 m southeast, CS Site II during the year 1963. In 1965 was followed by a 154- cm reflecting telescope at Site I, followed shortly by two similar 152 -Cm reflector telescopes at Site II 1969, a 102- cm reflecting telescope near site II was built in the vicinity of a sender of the FAA. As a precondition for the use of the Mount Lemmon Observatory ( MLO) causing reached the U.S. Forest Service vacate the Site II, which was completed in 1972 .. The 102- cm telescope remained standing until 1975, when it was also moved to the MLO. In 1972, the 54 - cm reflecting telescope was replaced by a 70 -cm Schmidt telescope. The 154- cm Kuiper telescope and the Schmidt telescope are used to this day, but have been upgraded several times. In 1978, the Steward Observatory operation of the plant from LPL. 1989, the system for the first time as Catalina conditioning (Catalina site) was designated and currently it is known as Catalina station.