Tenagra Observatories, Ltd.

Ad astra per aspera. Never give up; never surrender.

Welcome to the Tenagra Observatories Website. We invented internet based imaging in 2001.

This URL contains an overview of the kind of work done at Tenagra and the telescopes we have available for outside use. We welcome your suggestions and comments.

What do NOAO, Caltech, New Mexico State, U. of Hawaii, U. of N. Carolina, Columbia U., Rice U. and Las Cumbres Observatories and many others have in common? They are all current or previous users of Tenagra telescopes.

"We had a couple of new Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) that we needed to recover but we were worried they might be discovered by someone else first. So we asked Michael Schwartz, who operates the Tenagra 32" telescope, if he might be able to image them ... We were sent e-mails containing astrometry and photometry of our objects the night after we requested observations , and our data were placed on the Tenagra FTP server shortly after the images were collected. Tenagra was responsive and our science was treated with confidentiality ..." -- Professor Chad Trujillo, Discoverer of Quaoar, California Institute of Technology.

Accepting New Users on Tenagra Telescopes

We are accepting reservations for blocks of time on the Tenagra II 32" f/7, Tenagra III 16" f/3.75 and the Tenagra Western Australia 14" f/9 telescopes for the January, 2010 to July 1, 2010 observing season. Please contact Michael Schwartz at mbs@tenagraobservatories.com to discuss costs for larger portions of the season or smaller blocks of time Users that need as little as 10 hours at a time can be accommodated. Click here for rate information.

Research on Tenagra Telescopes

The SAO/NASA ADS Astronomy Abstract Service lists 196 publications based on data taken on Tenagra Observatories' telescopes. Some examples:

"A Possible High Nova Rate for Two Local Group Dwarf Galaxies: M32 and NGC 205", Neil, James D.; Shara, Michael

"A Multiwavelength Investigation of Unidentified Egret Sources", Wallace, P.; Bloom, S.; Lewis, M.

"Asteroid Photometry Using a Remote, Commercial Telescope: Results for Asteroids 808, 1225, and 28753", Ditteon, Richard; Tollefson, Eric; Twarek, Andrew

"LCOGT Networked Observations of RR Lyr Stars in the Sextans Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy", Baliber, Nairn; Siegel, M. H.; Hidas, M. G.; Norbury, M.

"The Lick AGN Monitoring Project 2. Photometric Light Curves", Walsh, Jonell, LAMP Collaboration

"Co-ordinated Follow-Up of Transiting Planet Candidates with Robotic Telescope Facilities", Street, R. A.; Lister, T. A.

"Early Time Chromatic Variations in the Wind-Swept Medium of GRB 021211 and the Faintness of Its Afterglow", M. C. Nysewander,1 D. E. Reichart et al.

Tenagra II Images

Image on left, a portion of M20, the Trifid Nebula, processed by John Smith. Image on right is M96 processed by Ken Crawford.

Current News:

September 30, 2009. Main Belt Asteroid Discoveries

In the course of the many NEO recoveries and follow-ups done recently with the Tenagra II 32", we have discovered at least 5 main belt asteroids. We don't have the time to follow them up, although we do submit an initial report to the MPC as do the surveys such as Catalina and LINEAR. If you are interested in discoveries there are clearly some to be made in the 20-21rst magnitude range, especially if your searches are optimized for main belt MPs.

September 29, 2009. The Tenagra II 32" is the most efficient NEO telescope in the world over the last 3 days thanks to the efforts of expert NEO hunter, Paulo Holvorcem:

NEO recoveries over the last 3 nights (090927 to 090929):

- 2008 YR27: http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/mpec/K09/K09SA9.html
- 2008 WB59: http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/mpec/K09/K09SB0.html
- 2004 XM35: http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/mpec/K09/K09SC8.html
- 2008 DH23: http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/mpec/K09/K09SD7.html
- 2007 VH186: http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/mpec/K09/K09SD8.html

June 3, 2009. Recovery of Comet P2002 JN 16 (LINEAR). Tenagra II helps Russia's Leonid Elenin recover this comet and detects a tail.

March 3, 2009. While Tenagra has made quite many minor planet discoveries, we have officially named the following four:

(70401) Davidbishop = 1999 RH241
(131186) Pauluckas = 2001 DS
(123860) Davederrick = 2001 DX

(149968) Trondal = 2005 TF152

Tenagra's Michael Schwartz, Paulo Holvorcem and Tenagra itself have asteroids named after them, those named for Schwartz and Holvorcem are courtesy the late Dr. Charles Juels, a good man and a great minor planet and comet hunter. We miss him. He would be making joke after joke about the new wide field scope, giving it funny names, but really loving the fact that it happened. Charles, we salute you and hopefully there will be many more discoveries in memory of your playfulness and dedication.

March 2, 2009. The new 16" f/3.75 astrograph with a 4K X 4K X 9μ pixel KAF-16801 camera is being installed. This will provide sampling of 1.3" per pixel, and a total field of view of 1.48º square. This will make Tenagra III an excellent NEO/Comet observing and wide field photometric instrument. Expected installation time is end of February, 2010. This telescope will be as fully automated as the Tenagra II including GRB interruption. It's filter wheel will have LRGB filters as well as UBVRI and clear. Contact us to reserve time. See below.

February 24, 2009. Tenagra Observatories has implemented an automatic GRB (or other transient) response system. A single FTP upload from a GRB user will automatically interrupt the Tenagra II or III run, slew to the provided GRB coordinates and begin a user-defined series of images. Interested users can demo this feature before purchasing GRB rights. Contact Michael Schwartz at mbs@tenagraobservatories.com for additional information.

How Much Does It Cost and How Do I Establish an Account?

Given large block time purchases, 32" time can go as low as $50 per exposure hour. Do you require a large amount of research telescope time on the Tenagra II 32"? Please click this link for more information.

For Current Weather Conditions at Tenagra Click Here. For the Tenagra Clear Sky Clock Click Here.

Archived News

If You Wish To Join the Tenagra User's Group Then Click Here.

How Does the Tenagra II 32" Telescope Work?

Tenagra Overview and Services.

Requesting Observing Time.

Pro Bono Telescope Time.

Who Are We?

Telescope Site in Arizona.

Supernova and Other Discoveries.