Category of Astronomical Heritage: tangible immovable
Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma - Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
Description
Geographical position
Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma (OAR) - Monte Porzio Catone e/o Frascati, Via Frascati, 33, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
See also:
- Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Villa Mellini, Sede di Monte Mario
- Rome (Campidoglio)
- Jesuit Observatory of the Collegio Romano
Location
Latitude 41°55´21" N, Longitude 12°27´09" E, Elevation 128m above mean sea level.
IAU observatory code
-
Description of (scientific/cultural/natural) heritage
Fig. 1a. Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma - Monte Porzio Catone (INAF)
Fig. 1b. Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma - Monte Porzio Catone (OAR)
The Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma - Monte Porzio Catone is 20 km southeast of the city of Rome.
Monte Porzio was waiting for the large refracting telescope, but due to the outbreak of WWII, this instrument never arrived.
In 1948, the Monte Porzio building became the Astronomical Observatory of Rome.
Fig. 2a. Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma - Monte Porzio Catone (INAF, Luca Zapacosta)
Fig. 2b. Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma - Monte Porzio Catone (INAF, Luca Zapacosta)
History
Instruments
- 60-cm/92-cm-Schmidt telescope (1953),
later installed in Campo Imperatore. - ....
Present use
Monte Porzio Catone belongs to the INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma.
AstroLAB is an interactive Astronomy Laboratory open to the public and school visits. In addition, the LightLab (Laboratory of light) and the Monteporzio Telescope (MPT) are used.
Astronomical relevance today
Astrophysical research covers different scientific topics ranging from the study of the Solar System to that of distant galaxies and the Universe as a whole.
In 1965, the Osservatorio Astronomico Campo Imperatore on the Gran Sasso mountain (100 km from Rome) was built.
Campo Imperatore (2300m) is a mountain station, where the Schmidt Telescope was installed:
60-cm/92-cm-Schmidt telescope (1953),
in 1997, replaced by an infrared telescope (AZT24) with an aperture of 1.1m - the result of a collaboration with Pulkovo Observatory, St. Petersburg, and Teramo Observatory.
In addition, there is the Monteporzio Telescope (MPT).
In 2017, the management was transferred from the Rome Astronomical Observatory to the newly-established Osservatorio d'Abruzzo.
References
Bibliography (books and published articles)
- ....
Links to external sites
- Monte Porzio Catone - Astronomic Observatory
- INAF Astronomical Observatory of Rome - Monte Porzio Catone
- Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma (OAR) - Monte Porzio Catone
