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Site Protection Efforts at the AURA Observatory in Chile

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2016

R. Chris Smith ,
Pedro Sanhueza  and
Malcolm G. Smith
R. Chris Smith
Affiliation:
AURA Observatory in Chile, Avenida Juan Cisternas 1600, La Serena, Chile email: csmith@aura-o.aura-astronomy.org
Pedro Sanhueza
Affiliation:
OPCC, Avenida Juan Cisternas 1606, La Serena, Chile email: psanhueza2007@gmail.com
Malcolm G. Smith
Affiliation:
NOAO/CTIO, Avenida Juan Cisternas 1600, La Serena, Chile email: msmith@ctio.noao.edu
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Abstract

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The AURA Observatory site in northern Chile, which includes Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachon, has been operational for over 50 years now, facing a variety of challenges to its long-term future. The site now hosts over 20 operational telescopes, ranging from small projects with 0.4m telescopes to the Blanco 4m, the SOAR 4.1m, and the 8m Gemini-South telescopes. In addition, we have recently begun the construction of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) on the summit of Cerro Pachon. We summarize our efforts over the past 20-30 years to highlight the importance of site protection through education and public outreach as well as through more recent promotion of IDA certifications in the region and support for the World Heritage initiatives described by others in this conference.

Keywords

atmospheric effectssite testing
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 11 , General Assembly A29A: Astronomy in Focus , August 2015 , pp. 115 - 117
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2016