Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is a research institute of the Smithsonian Institution, concentrating on astrophysical studies including galactic and extragalactic astronomy, cosmology, solar, earth and planetary sciences, theory and instrumentation, using observations at wavelengths from the highest energy gamma rays to the radio, along with gravitational waves.  Established in Washington, D.C., in 1890, the SAO moved its headquarters in 1955 to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where its research is a collaboration with the Harvard College Observatory (HCO) and the Harvard University Department of Astronomy. In 1973, the Smithsonian and Harvard formalized the collaboration as the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) under a single Director.

History

Samuel Pierpont Langley, the third Secretary of the Smithsonian, founded the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory on the south yard of the Smithsonian Castle (on the U.S. National Mall) on March 1,1890. The Astrophysical Observatory's initial, primary purpose was to "record the amount and character of the Sun's heat<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>". Charles Greeley Abbot was named SAO's first director, and the observatory operated solar telescopes to take daily measurements of the Sun's intensity in different regions of the optical electromagnetic spectrum. In doing so, the observatory enabled Abbot to make critical refinements to the Solar constant, as well as to serendipitously discover Solar variability. It is likely that SAO's early history as a solar observatory was part of the inspiration behind the Smithsonian's "sunburst" logo, designed in 1965 by Crimilda Pontes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1955, the scientific headquarters of SAO moved from Washington, D.C. to Cambridge, Massachusetts to affiliate with the Harvard College Observatory (HCO).<ref name=":0" /> Fred Lawrence Whipple, then the chairman of the Harvard Astronomy Department, was named the new director of SAO. The collaborative relationship between SAO and HCO therefore predates the official creation of the CfA by 18 years. SAO's move to Harvard's campus also resulted in a rapid expansion of its research program. Following the launch of Sputnik (the world's first human-made satellite) in 1957, SAO accepted a national challenge<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> to create a worldwide satellite-tracking network, collaborating with the United States Air Force on Project Space Track.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

With the creation of NASA the following year and throughout the space race, SAO led major efforts in the development of orbiting observatories and large ground-based telescopes, laboratory and theoretical astrophysics, as well as the application of computers to astrophysical problems.

Directors

The followings persons served as director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:Abbr	Image	SAO Director	Term start	Term end	Template:Abbr
Established in 1890 in Washington, D.C.
1	File:Samuel Pierpont Langley.jpg	Samuel Pierpont LangleyTemplate:Efn	March 1, 1890	February 27, 1906Template:Efn
2	File:Dr. Charles G. Abbot with Book.jpg	Charles Greeley AbbotTemplate:Efn	1906	1942
3		Loyal Blaine Aldrich	1942	1955
Headquarters relocated in 1955 to Cambridge, Massachusetts
4		Fred Lawrence Whipple	1955	1973
The Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics was formed on July 1, 1973
5	File:GeorgeBField1987.jpg	George B. Field	July 1, 1973	1982
6		Irwin I. Shapiro	1982	2004
7	File:Charles Alcock.JPG	Charles R. Alcock	August 1, 2004	January 1, 2022	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
8		Lisa Kewley	July 1, 2022	present	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Table notes: Template:Notelist

Remote stations

SAO has operated a number of remote stations over the years.<ref name=1965BRAN /><ref name=1977ROOS /> Template:Expand list

Station	Type	Latitude	Longitude	El. (m)	Opened	Closed	Coordinates
Mount Wilson, California	Solar	34º13'N	118º56'W	1737	1908	1920	Template:Coord
Hump Mountain, North Carolina	Solar	36º8'N	82º0'W	1500	1917	1918	Template:Coord
Calama, Chile	Solar	22º28'S	68º56'W	2250	1918	1920	Template:Coord
Mount Montezuma, Chile	Solar	22º40'S	68º56'W	2711	1920	?	Template:Coord
Mount Harquahala, Arizona	Solar	33º48'N	113º20'W	1721	1920	1925	Template:Coord
Table Mountain, California	Solar	34º22'N	117º41'W	2286	1925	1962	Template:Coord
Mount Brukkaros, Namibia	Solar	25º52'S	17º48'E	1586	1926	1931	Template:Coord
Mount Saint Catherine, Egypt	Solar	28º31'N	33º56'E	2591	1934	1937	Template:Coord
Burro Mountain, New Mexico	Solar	32º40'N	108º33'W	2440	1938	1946	Template:Coord
Organ Pass, New Mexico	Space Track	32º25'N	106º33'W				Template:Coord
Parnamirim, Brazil	Space Track	05º55'S	35º09'W	390	1966	1976	Template:Coord
Olifantsfontein, South Africa	Space Track	25º58'S	28º15'E				Template:Coord
Woomera, Australia	Space Track	31º06'S	136º46'E				Template:Coord
Cadiz, Spain	Space Track	36º28'N	353º48'E				Template:Coord
Shiraz, Iran	Space Track	29º38'N	52º31'E				Template:Coord
Curaçao, Netherlands West Indies	Space Track	12º05'N	291º10'E				Template:Coord
Jupiter, Florida	Space Track	27º01'N	279º53'E				Template:Coord
Haleakala, Hawaii	Space Track	20º43'N	203º45'E				Template:Coord
Villa Dolores, Argentina	Space Track	31º57'S	294º54'E				Template:Coord
Mitaka, Japan	Space Track
Nanital, India	Space Track	29°23'N	79°27'E	2084	2004		Template:Coord
Arequipa, Peru	Solar, Space Track
Oak Ridge Observatory

SAO Today

The current director of the SAO is Lisa Kewley (2022 to present). There are currently about 170 research staff working at the SAO, including affiliated research staff. In addition, the SAO has about 120 postdoctoral researchers/fellows working in five competitive, associated fellowship programs: CfA, Clay, SMA, ITAMP, and Leon Van Speybroeck, or in support of a contract or grant. (Additional postdocs do research via Harvard fellowship programs or national/international fellowship awards); about 40% of the postdoctoral community are women and about 12% are from minority populations. SAO scientists can supervise Harvard Ph.D. students, and in addition they typically supervise about 30 graduate students from other institutions who are pursuing Ph.D. theses at the SAO. About thirty undergraduate students intern at the SAO each year. All together there are about 950 staff (including administrative and management department employees) working at the Center.

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Directors

• Samuel Pierpont Langley 1890–1906<ref name="harvard">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Charles Greeley Abbot 1906–1942<ref name="harvard"/>
• Loyal Blaine Aldrich 1942–1955<ref name="harvard"/>
• Fred Lawrence Whipple 1955–1973<ref name="harvard"/>
• George B. Field 1973–1982<ref name="harvard"/> (with the creation of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in 1973, the director of SAO and the Harvard College Observatory became a joint position)
• Irwin I. Shapiro 1982–2004<ref name="harvard"/>
• Charles R. Alcock 2004–2022<ref name="AlcockAnnouncement">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Lisa Kewley 2022–present<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Associates

• Margaret Sordahl

See also

• List of astronomical societies

External links

• Template:Commons category inline
• SAO homepage
• Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian