Robotic Lunar Observatory

Robotic Lunar Observatory
Alternative namesROLO Edit this at Wikidata
OrganizationNASA and USGS
LocationFlagstaff, Arizona
Coordinates35°12′53″N 111°38′04″W / 35.2148°N 111.6344°W / 35.2148; -111.6344
Altitude2,146 meters (7,041 ft)
Established1995 (1995)
WebsiteLunar Calibration – ROLO
Telescopes
unnamed telescopes20 cm reflector (×2)
Robotic Lunar Observatory is located in the United States
Robotic Lunar Observatory
Location of Robotic Lunar Observatory
[edit on Wikidata]
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The Robotic Lunar Observatory (ROLO) is an astronomical observatory funded by NASA and located at the United States Geological Survey Flagstaff Science Campus atop McMillan Mesa in Flagstaff, Arizona. Its purpose is to enable the Moon to be used as a radiometric calibration reference for Earth-orbiting remote-sensing spacecraft instruments.[1][2] The ROLO project is currently ongoing, but the program ceased observations in September 2003. The facility is maintained for calibration and instrument characterization purposes. It consists of two 20 cm (7.9 in) Ritchey-Chrétien telescopes attached to an equatorial mount made by DFM Engineering. One telescope is fitted with a sensor optimized for visible and near-infrared (VNIR) wavelengths, while the other is tuned to short-wavelength infrared (SWIR). The VNIR camera began operations in 1995 and the SWIR camera in 1997.[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2005KIEFF was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference ROLO-HOME was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1999ANDE was invoked but never defined (see the help page).