Robotic Lunar Observatory
- Art & landmarks
- In Flagstaff, Arizona
- 1.3 mi from Route 66
The Robotic Lunar Observatory, or ROLO, is a NASA-funded astronomical observatory in Flagstaff, AZ, on McMillan Mesa at the U.S. Geological Survey's science campus, about 1.3 miles off the old road. Its job was to turn the Moon into a measuring standard for instruments on Earth-orbiting satellites. It stopped observing in 2003 but is still kept up for calibration work, one more part of Flagstaff's deep ties to astronomy.
What is Robotic Lunar Observatory?
Instruments on satellites that observe Earth need a reference to check their readings against. ROLO was built so the Moon could serve as that reference. Its equipment is compact: two 20-centimeter Ritchey-Chrétien telescopes sharing one equatorial mount built by DFM Engineering. One telescope carries a camera tuned to visible and near-infrared light, and the other works in short-wavelength infrared.
History of Robotic Lunar Observatory
The visible and near-infrared camera started work in 1995, and the infrared camera followed in 1997. Observations ended in September 2003, although the project itself carries on, and the equipment is still kept in working order for calibration and for testing instruments.
Visiting Robotic Lunar Observatory: tips
ROLO is a research facility on a government science campus, not a visitor attraction, so enjoy it as part of Flagstaff's astronomy story rather than a stop to tour. The Presbyterian Church Parsonage and The Ice House are both about 1.3 miles away in downtown, and Hotel Monte Vista about 1.4 miles.
Practical info
- Website
- moon-cal.org
- Hours
- We have no opening hours for this stop yet — check the official site.
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
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