OAC - Astronomical Observatory of Capannori

Subpages Overview

Mission Statement

Who we are

Staff

OAC Observatory

Telescopes List

Opto-Electronic Instrumentation

Activities:

Published Papers

Guida in Italiano

Visiting OAC / Visita l'OAC

Comune di Capannori

OAC Observatory

OAC in general:
the Astronomical Observatory of Capannori (OAC) is an observing station located on the Gallonzora Mountain, in a panoramic place without too many artificial lights, near the village of Vorno, in the countee of Capannori, Tuscany region, central Italy.
The observing station of OAC was officially inaugurated on June12th 2010 by various members of the administration of the municipality of Capannori; nevertheless the observatory was (at least in part) working since 2008.
The scientific management of OAC is exclusively performed by the 'Istituto Ricerche Fotometriche' (I.R.F.) whose aims are carrying out scientific research in the fields of astronomy and environmetrics; more aims are public outreach and educational activities in the two above mentioned fields.
An important ideal inspirating the activities of OAC is the freedom of scientific research, teaching, and autonomy in scientific management, as stated also by thearticle n° 33 of the Italian Republic Constitution.

Technical data about OAC:
Geographic info:
long = +10°31'18.10" E
lat. = +43°47'38.83" N
alt. = 236 meters (a.s.l.)

Night sky zenith brightness:
The median night sky zenith brightness (measured in many no-Moon nights with an Unihedron SQM-L sky quality meter) at OAC is about 20.1 mag/arcsec2.

First order atmospheric extinction coefficients:
The median first order UBVR bands atmospheric extinction coefficients at OAC (measured in many clear nights with our two Optec SSP-5A photoelectric photometers) are as follows:
median k'U = 0.67 mag/airmass
median k'B = 0.36 mag/airmass
median k'V = 0.23 mag/airmass
median k'R = 0.18 mag/airmass

Second order k"bv atmospheric extinction coefficient:
latest k"bv = +0.003

Seeing:
the seeing at OAC shows a strong correlation with the time in each night, being worst (~ 3 arcseconds) at the very beginning of the night, and being best (namely ~ 2 arcseconds or better) at late night. Sometimes, at very late night before dawn, we get even 1 arcsecond.

Virtual Tour of OAC Observatory


OAC in winter with the snow as seen from the street	The path that leads to OAC under a clear sky

The landscape of Lucca valley as seen from OAC	The control room and pine trees on the background in spring

OAC in winter with the snow at sunset	OAC under a cloudy sky

The dome of Oac as seen from the west side	The dome of OAC under a very clear sky

The dome and control room of OAC as seen from southwest in a beautiful spring day	The dome of OAC with spring flowers in a very clear day

OAC from northwest in a sunny spring day	The clearing on the west side of OAC looking towards north

The control room by night under subdued light conditions	The 0.30-m f/10 telescope in its dome as seen from south-east

The DSS7 spectrometer and CCD camera ST-7XME attached to the focus of the 0.30-m f/10 telescope	The 0.60-m f/9.83 Cassegrain reflector in its dome as seen from South-East

Home