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10.11: The National Solar Observatory

Last updated

Nov 20, 2024
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- 10.10: The Dark Side of the Sun
- 10.12: NASA’s Heliophysics Science Division

Lumen Learning
Lumen Learning

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The National Solar Observatory telescope tower, 136 feet high. — The National Solar Observatory Telescope *Tower*Image courtesy of Mike Reynolds, Ph. D. of Florida State College at Jacksonville.

The main telescope at NSO Sacramento Peak is the Richard B. Dunn Solar Telescope. This imposing solar tower, 136 feet high, produces 0. 2 arc-second resolution and over many years has produced some of the finest solar images and data. Another 220 feet of the Dunn Solar Telescope lies below ground, making the total length of this imposing instrument 356 feet. The instrument was upgraded to include adaptive optics; another advantage to reduce seeing effects while observing the sun.

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