about aura

AURA Centers

AURA Observatory AURA OBSERVATORY (AURA-O) - AURA-O is the primary representative in Chile for AURA and all facilities operating or wishing to operate on its property.  The facilities include National Optical Astronomy Observatory (Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory), Gemini South, Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) Telescope and such other observatory operations functioning under the auspices of AURA in Chile.


Gemini Observatory GEMINI OBSERVATORY - The Gemini Observatory is an international partnership to operate twin 8.1-meter telescopes, one on Hawaii's Mauna Kea and the other on Chile's Cerro Pachon. The partners include the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Australia, Brazil, and Argentina.  AURA manages Gemini under the auspices of the International Gemini Board and the U.S. National Science Foundation as its executive agency.



Large Synoptic Survey Telescope LARGE SYNOPTIC SURVEY TELESCOPE (LSST) - The LSST is a public-private partnership to operate an 8.4-meter telescope on Chile’s Cerro Pachon. The partnership includes funding agencies, private foundations, individuals, and LSST Member Institutions. The LSST is a wide-field telescope facility that will add a qualitatively new capability in astronomy. For the first time, the LSST will provide time-lapse digital imaging of faint astronomical objects across the entire sky. AURA operates LSST for the National Science Foundation under cooperative agreement.


National Optical Astronomy Observatory NATIONAL OPTICAL ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORY (NOAO) - NOAO operates telescopes for night-time astronomy. These telescopes are located on Kitt Peak in Arizona and Cerro Tololo in Chile, and are used by approximately one thousand professional astronomers and students each year. In addition, NOAO provides support for the involvement of the U.S. astronomical community in the Gemini Observatory. AURA operates NOAO for the National Science Foundation under cooperative agreement.


National Solar Observatory NATIONAL SOLAR OBSERVATORY (NSO) - The mission of the National Solar Observatory is to advance our understanding of the Sun in its astrophysical context as a star, as the driver of conditions in interplanetary space, in its influence on the terrestrial atmosphere, and in its role in long-term climate change. NSO provides observing facilities for use by the nation's solar and solar-terrestrial physics community. NSO conducts research at Sacramento Peak in New Mexico and at Kitt Peak in Arizona. Its current major initiative is the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST). AURA operates NSO for the National Science Foundation under cooperative agreement.


Space Telescope Science Institute SPACE TELESCOPE SCIENCE INSTITUTE (STScI) - STScI carries out the scientific mission of the Hubble Space Telescope, the most powerful optical/ultraviolet observatory in space. From Baltimore, Maryland, STScI serves astronomers everywhere who observe the universe with Hubble. In addition, STScI is developing the Science and Operations Center for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). JWST will be Hubble's successor and is currently scheduled to launch in 2015. AURA manages STScI under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).