Hello from the "Cluster One Observatory", Chile Introduce yourself! · Cluster One Observatory · ... · 6 · 165 · 0

ClusterOneObservatory 0.00
...
The "Cluster One Observatory" is our little and under-constant-development optical observatory, located in the city of La Serena in the north of Chile.

My name is Felipe Mac Auliffe Prieto and, together with my children Felipe Mac Auliffe Lopez (16 years old) and Joakin Mac Auliffe Lopez (15 years old), we are working and enjoying so much in this project that started to get into shape in 2019.

My personal passion about astronomy dated back to 1986, when the Halley comet basically caught my attention in every sense and consequence. Ever since, the driving force of my life has been observing the Universe, firstly at an amateur observatory in Santiago (ACHAYA) until it developed into my main activity at the astronomical observatories located in the north of Chile.

In 1993, I moved from Santiago de Chile to La Serena, to start my career as staff observer at the Southern Columbia Millimeter Telescope (SCMT), at the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory. Then in 1994, I started to work as  resident astronomer for the University of Toronto Southern Observatory (UTSO), at Las Campanas Observatory. In 1996 I moved to the largest radiotelescope in the southern hemisphere by that time: The Swedish ESO Submillimetre Telescope (SEST) and started my professional career at the "European Southern Observatory (ESO)".

As in September 2003, the SEST radiotelescope was decommissioned and  I moved into the science operations group of the "Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX)" in San Pedro de Atacama. APEX, is a collaboration between Max Planck Institut für Radioastronomie (MPIfR) at 55%, Onsala Space Observatory (OSO) at 13%, and the European Southern Observatory (ESO) at 32% to operate a modified ALMA prototype antenna as a single dish on the high altitude site of Llano Chajnantor.

After all of these years in professional astronomy, something was missing in my life ... And it was actually to observe and image the Universe using my own equipment and in some sense, to reconnect with my passion about observational astronomy, starting from the very basis.

In this wonderful journey, my children got into the hobby and all together as a family team, we decided to name our facility as "Cluster One Observatory", in clear reference to Pink Floyd "The Division Bell" album, that was released when I was working at the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory.

"Cluster one" is the opening number of the album and just by an astonishing coincidence, the artwork features the domes of the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory ... and I was there ... fulfilling my dreams mapping CO in the galactic plane while listening to Pink Floyd. If you're curios about it, set the controls of your browser to http://www.apex-telescope.org/~fauliffe/html/pinkfloyd/tdb-ctio.html

Whats next in this observatory ? Well ...were are already thinking  on a permanent setup for our equipment to ease the operations.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Rodrigo Zelada who runs a local company named "North Optics", bringing specialized astronomical equipment to La Serena. Every piece of or setup has been bought to North Optics.

Also would like to share tons of words of recognition to Carlos Sagan for his wonderful work reviewing equipment and uploading very informative videos to share his experience. Last but not the least, to all the masters of astro-photography of the "Asociacion Chilena de Astronomia y Astronautica (ACHAYA)"  who are constantly sharing their passion and enthusiasm about this amazing hobby.

Last but not the least, I'm a member of the "Corporacion Fotografica de Elqui (COFEL)". If you feel enthusiastic about photography this is the place to go.

All the best, clear skies and shine on

Felipe Mac Auliffe Prieto
Felipe Mac Auliffe Lopez
Joakin Mac Auliffe Lopez

Cluster One Observatory
Edited ...
Like
wimvb 1.91
...
What a wonderful story and history. I wish you and yours all the best in your endeavours.

CS,

Wim
Like
Vittorio 3.82
...
Wellcome from Italy :-)
Vittorio
Like
hbastro
...
Welcome from Southern California,
Regards,
Dave
Like
Bobinius 9.01
...
Welcome Felipe! Really nice story and I'm a big Pink Floyd fan too (I remember a magical moment under the stars shooting my first Milky Way and listening to Pink Floyd : )

Clear skies
Bogdan
Like
dcartes 1.43
...
Hello Felipe, welcome and nice to see you here!

Regards,
Diego Cartes
Like
CarlosSagan 1.81
...
Wonderful History Felipe an honor to be there (Carlos Sagan).

Welcome!! It will be nice to have your work here.

Clear Skies

Carlos.
Like
 
Register or login to create to post a reply.