Big Bear Solar Observatory

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The '''Big Bear Solar Observatory''' (BBSO) is a solar observatory located on the north side of Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains of southwestern San Bernardino County, California (USA), approximately east of downtown Los Angeles.  The telescopes and instruments at the observatory are designed and employed specifically for studying the activities and phenomena of our solar system's star, the [[Sun]].
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[[File:BBSO.png|100px|thumb|right]]
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The '''Big Bear Solar Observatory''' (BBSO) is a solar observatory operated by New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) located on the north side of Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains of California.  The telescopes and instruments at the observatory are designed and employed specifically for studying the activities and phenomena of our solar system's star, the [http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Sun Sun].
== The Observatory ==
== The Observatory ==
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The observatory was built by the California Institute of Technology in 1969 under the direction of professor Harold Zirin. Management of the observatory was transferred to the [[New Jersey Institute of Technology]] (NJIT) in 1997. Funding comes from [[NASA]], the [[National Science Foundation]], the United States Air Force, and other agencies.
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[[File:BBSO observatory panorama.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Inside the dome of the Big Bear Solar Observatory during the filming of the documentary, "BBSO Secrets of Our Star"]]
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The location at Big Bear Lake is optimal due to the clarity of the sky and the presence a body of water.  The lake surface is about above [[sea level]], putting it above a significant portion of the atmosphere.  The main observatory building is in the open waters of the lake, and was originally reached by boat, though a causeway was added later. The water provides a cooling effect on the atmosphere surrounding the building and eliminates ground heat radiation waves that normally would cause optical aberrations.
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== The Telescope ==
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The observatory originally operated three solar telescopes: a vacuum reflector, a vacuum refractor, and a refractor. The 65 cm and 25 cm telescopes studied [[sunspot]]s on the face of the Sun, while the 20 cm telescope tracked the full disk of the Sun from sunrise to sunset.
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In 2006, the old main building dome was replaced with a larger, ventilated, 5/8 spherical dome in preparation for a new telescope.<ref name=DBLOG /> It is a scaled-down version of the [[Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope]] (SOAR) dome, and incorporates several strategies to improve [[astronomical seeing]].<ref name=2007VERD /> Removal of the old 65&nbsp;cm, and 25&nbsp;cm telescopes took place in February 2007.<ref name=NSTS1 />
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In early 2007, [[DFM Engineering]] began building a new {{convert|1.6|m|in|abbr=on}} clear aperture open frame, off-axis [[Gregorian telescope]].<ref name=DFMBBSO /> The New Solar Telescope (NST) saw first engineering light of the Sun at the [[Nasmyth focus]] in December 2008, and observations began in January 2009.<ref name=NSTS5 /> The telescope is set on an [[equatorial mount]], which is attached to the existing pier.  The mirror was [[figured]] from a 1.7&nbsp;m blank by the [[University of Arizona]] Mirror Lab as a proof-of-concept for the mirrors of the [[Giant Magellan Telescope]].<ref name=2003GOOD /> Until the [[Advanced Technology Solar Telescope]] is completed, the NST will be the largest clear aperture solar telescope in the world.  It is able to resolve features on the Sun less than 50&nbsp;km across.  The project was a collaboration between BBSO/NJIT, the [[University of Hawaii]] Institute for Astronomy (UH IfA), and the [[Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute]] (KASI).
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In 2007, the 20&nbsp;cm full-disk telescope was replaced by the {{convert|10|cm|in|abbr=on}} Full Disk H-alpha (FDHA) Patrol Telescope, located in an additional small building called the ''Ash Dome.''<ref name=FDHAPT />  It is co-mounted with another small telescope dedicated to observing [[earthshine]].<ref name=ESHINE />
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The observatory also hosts a station of the [[Global Oscillation Network Group]], an experiment in [[helioseismology]] operated by the [[National Solar Observatory]].  It is located at the shore end of the causeway and began operating in 1995.<ref name=GONG />
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== Solar images ==
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[[File:Three views of the Sun (from Big Bear Solar Observatory).jpg|frame|center|Top: Sun with [[Transit of Mercury|Planet Mercury crossing its face]]. The small black dot at the top of the Sun is Mercury. Bottom photos: Shots of the Sun in [[H-alpha|hydrogen-alpha]] light through the 20&nbsp;cm full-disc telescope. The left-hand image is a normal contrast image.  The right-hand image, acquired on a different day, has its contrast enhanced by removing the [[limb darkening]].]]
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== See also ==
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* [[List of solar telescopes]]
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* [[List of astronomical observatories]]
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* [[Big Bear Discovery Center]]
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== References ==
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{{Reflist|refs=
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<ref name=SYNOP>{{cite journal |bibcode=2007ASPC..368..515D |title=Synoptic Observing at Big Bear Solar Observatory |author1=Denker |first1=C. |last2=Naqvi |first2=M. |last3=Deng |first3=N. |last4=Tritschler |first4=A. |last5=Marquette |first5=W. H. |volume=368 |year=2007 |pages=515 |journal=The Physics of Chromospheric Plasmas ASP Conference Series |accessdate=2012-01-15}}</ref>
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<ref name=BBSOCWAY>{{cite web |title=Big Bear Solar Observatory - Causeway |url=http://www.bbso.njit.edu/new_tour/causeway.html |publisher=Big Bear Solar Observatory |accessdate=2012-01-15}}</ref>
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<ref name=BBSOFAQ>{{cite web |title=Big Bear Solar Observatory - FAQ |url=http://www.bbso.njit.edu/faq.html |publisher=Big Bear Solar Observatory |accessdate=2012-01-07}}</ref>
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<ref name=DBLOG>{{cite web |title=Big Bear Solar Observatory - Dome Blog |url=http://www.bbso.njit.edu/domeblog/index.html |publisher=Big Bear Solar Observatory |accessdate=2012-01-07}}</ref>
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The observatory was built by the California Institute of Technology in 1969 under the direction of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Zirin|Dr. Hal (Captain Corona) Zirin]. Management of the observatory was transferred to the NJIT in 1997. Funding comes from NASA, the National Science Foundation, the United States Air Force, and other agencies.
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<ref name=2007VERD>{{cite journal |doi=10.1117/12.734948 |chapter=The thermal environment of the fiber glass dome for the new solar telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory |title=Proceedings of SPIE |year=2007 |last1=Verdoni |first1=A. P. |last2=Denker |first2=C. |last3=Varsik |first3=J. R. |last4=Shumko |first4=S. |last5=Nenow |first5=J. |last6=Coulter |first6=R. |volume=6689 |pages=66890Y |accessdate=2012-01-15|arxiv = 0708.0622 }}</ref>
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The location at Big Bear Lake is optimal due to the clarity of the sky and the presence a body of water. The lake surface is about above sea level, putting it above a significant portion of the atmosphere. The main observatory building is in the open waters of the lake, and was originally reached by boat, though a causeway was added later. The water provides a cooling effect on the atmosphere surrounding the building and eliminates ground heat radiation waves that normally would cause optical aberrations.
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<ref name=NSTS1>{{cite web |title=Big Bear Solar Observatory - NST Blog Section 1 |url=http://www.bbso.njit.edu/telblog/section1.html |publisher=Big Bear Solar Observatory |accessdate=2012-01-07}}</ref>
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== The 1.6 Meter New Solar Telescope ==
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<ref name=DFMBBSO>{{cite web |title=Newsworthy Articles - Big Bear Solar Telescope |url=http://www.dfmengineering.com/news_big_bear_solar.html |publisher=DFM Engineering, Inc. |accessdate=2012-01-07}}</ref>
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In 2007, the New Solar Telescope (NST), a 1.6 meter clear aperture open frame, off-axis [[Gregorian telescope]] was commissioned and built by DFM Engineering. The New Solar NST saw first light of the Sun at the [[Nasmyth focus]] in December 2008, and observations began in January 2009. The telescope is mounted on an [[equatorial mount]] with direct drive, which is attached to the modified existing pier.  The mirror was figured from a 1.7 meter blank by the University of Arizona Mirror Lab as a proof-of-concept for the mirrors of the [[Giant Magellan Telescope]].
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<ref name=NSTS5>{{cite web |title=Big Bear Solar Observatory - NST Blog Section 5 |url=http://www.bbso.njit.edu/telblog/section5.html |publisher=Big Bear Solar Observatory |accessdate=2012-01-07}}</ref>
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==High Resolution Solar Imagery==
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<ref name=2003GOOD>{{cite journal |bibcode=2003JKAS...36S.125G |title=1.6 M Solar Telescope in Big Bear -- the NST |author1=Goode |first1=Philip R. |last2=Denker |first2=Carsten J. |last3=Didkovsky |first3=Leonid I. |last4=Kuhn |first4=J. R. |last5=Wang |first5=Haimin |volume=36 |year=2003 |pages=125 |journal=Journal of the Korean Astronomical Society |accessdate=2012-01-15}}</ref>
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[[File:BBS0 mini granulation.png|200px|thumb|right|Solar granulation and mini-granulation acquired with the Big Bear Solar Observatory's New Solar Telescope on August 3, 2010]]
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<ref name=FDHAPT>{{cite web |title=Global High-Resolution H-alpha Network |url=http://www.bbso.njit.edu/Research/FDHA/data.html |publisher=Big Bear Solar Observatory |accessdate=2012-01-07}}</ref>
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Due to the favorable location, advanced instrumentation, and the skill of the astronomers and technical teams at BBSO/NJIT, some of the highest resolution imagery of the sun ever obtained is being produced.  
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<ref name=ESHINE>{{cite web |title=Project Earthshine |url=http://www.bbso.njit.edu/earthshine.html |publisher=Big Bear Solar Observatory |accessdate=2012-01-07}}</ref>
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The NST ranks among the largest clear aperture solar telescopes in the world, and with larger aperture comes greater resolving power. It is able to resolve features on the Sun less than 50&nbsp;km across. The NST project was a collaboration between BBSO/NJIT, the [[University of Hawaii]] Institute for Astronomy (UH IfA), and the [[Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute]] (KASI).
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<ref name=GONG>{{cite web |title=NSO/GONG: Site - Big Bear |url=http://gong.nso.edu/sites/bigbear.shtml |publisher=National Solar Observatory Global Oscillation Network Group |accessdate=2012-01-07}}</ref>
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==BBSO Secrets of Our Star==
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"BBSO Secrets of Our Star" is a short documentary film produced by the AstronomyOutreach network to explain the history and current research that is conducted at BBSO, and will be used as part of BBSO/NJIT's public outreach programs. The film is in post-production (release scheduled for May 2014).
== External links ==
== External links ==
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* {{Official website|http://www.bbso.njit.edu/|name=Big Bear Solar Observatory}}
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* [http://www.bbso.njit.edu/|Big Bear Solar Observatory Official Website]
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* [http://cleardarksky.com/c/BBLSOCAkey.html?1 Big Bear Solar Observatory Clear Sky Clock] Forecast of observing conditions.
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* [http://physics.njit.edu/about/ NJIT Physics Dept.]
* [http://physics.njit.edu/about/ NJIT Physics Dept.]

Latest revision as of 23:55, 30 January 2014

BBSO.png

The Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) is a solar observatory operated by New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) located on the north side of Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains of California. The telescopes and instruments at the observatory are designed and employed specifically for studying the activities and phenomena of our solar system's star, the Sun.

Contents

The Observatory

Inside the dome of the Big Bear Solar Observatory during the filming of the documentary, "BBSO Secrets of Our Star"

The observatory was built by the California Institute of Technology in 1969 under the direction of Hal (Captain Corona) Zirin. Management of the observatory was transferred to the NJIT in 1997. Funding comes from NASA, the National Science Foundation, the United States Air Force, and other agencies.

The location at Big Bear Lake is optimal due to the clarity of the sky and the presence a body of water. The lake surface is about above sea level, putting it above a significant portion of the atmosphere. The main observatory building is in the open waters of the lake, and was originally reached by boat, though a causeway was added later. The water provides a cooling effect on the atmosphere surrounding the building and eliminates ground heat radiation waves that normally would cause optical aberrations.

The 1.6 Meter New Solar Telescope

In 2007, the New Solar Telescope (NST), a 1.6 meter clear aperture open frame, off-axis Gregorian telescope was commissioned and built by DFM Engineering. The New Solar NST saw first light of the Sun at the Nasmyth focus in December 2008, and observations began in January 2009. The telescope is mounted on an equatorial mount with direct drive, which is attached to the modified existing pier. The mirror was figured from a 1.7 meter blank by the University of Arizona Mirror Lab as a proof-of-concept for the mirrors of the Giant Magellan Telescope.

High Resolution Solar Imagery

Solar granulation and mini-granulation acquired with the Big Bear Solar Observatory's New Solar Telescope on August 3, 2010

Due to the favorable location, advanced instrumentation, and the skill of the astronomers and technical teams at BBSO/NJIT, some of the highest resolution imagery of the sun ever obtained is being produced.

The NST ranks among the largest clear aperture solar telescopes in the world, and with larger aperture comes greater resolving power. It is able to resolve features on the Sun less than 50 km across. The NST project was a collaboration between BBSO/NJIT, the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy (UH IfA), and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI).

BBSO Secrets of Our Star

"BBSO Secrets of Our Star" is a short documentary film produced by the AstronomyOutreach network to explain the history and current research that is conducted at BBSO, and will be used as part of BBSO/NJIT's public outreach programs. The film is in post-production (release scheduled for May 2014).

External links

Retrieved from "http://astronomyoutreach.net/index.php?title=Big_Bear_Solar_Observatory"
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