The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is a research institute of the Smithsonian Institution, concentrating on astrophysical studies including galactic and extragalactic astronomy, cosmology, solar, earth and planetary sciences, theory and instrumentation, using observations at wavelengths from the highest energy gamma rays to the radio, along with gravitational waves.  Established in Washington, D.C., in 1890, the SAO moved its headquarters in 1955 to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where its research is a collaboration with the Harvard College Observatory (HCO) and the Harvard University Department of Astronomy. In 1973, the Smithsonian and Harvard formalized the collaboration as the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) under a single Director.

History

Samuel Pierpont Langley, the third secretary of the Smithsonian, founded the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory on the south yard of the Smithsonian Castle (on the U.S. National Mall) on March 1,1890. The Astrophysical Observatory's initial, primary purpose was to "record the amount and character of the Sun's heat". Charles Greeley Abbot was named SAO's first director, and the observatory operated solar telescopes to take daily measurements of the Sun's intensity in different regions of the optical electromagnetic spectrum. In doing so, the observatory enabled Abbot to make critical refinements to the Solar constant, as well as to serendipitously discover Solar variability. It is likely that SAO's early history as a solar observatory was part of the inspiration behind the Smithsonian's "sunburst" logo, designed in 1965 by Crimilda Pontes.

In 1955, the scientific headquarters of SAO moved from Washington, D.C. to Cambridge, Massachusetts to affiliate with the Harvard College Observatory (HCO). to create a worldwide satellite-tracking network, collaborating with the United States Air Force on Project Space Track.

With the creation of NASA the following year and throughout the space race, SAO led major efforts in the development of orbiting observatories and large ground-based telescopes, laboratory and theoretical astrophysics, as well as the application of computers to astrophysical problems.

Directors

The followings persons served as director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory:

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! SAO Director

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| colspan=6 bgcolor="#e6e6e6" style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"|Established in 1890 in Washington, D.C.

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| 1

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| Samuel Pierpont Langley

| March 1, 1890

| February 27, 1906

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| 2

| 70px

| Charles Greeley Abbot

| 1906

| 1942

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| 3

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| Loyal Blaine Aldrich

| 1942

| 1955

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| colspan=6 bgcolor="#e6e6e6" style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"|Headquarters relocated in 1955 to Cambridge, Massachusetts

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| 4

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| Fred Lawrence Whipple

| 1955

| 1973

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| colspan=6 bgcolor="#e6e6e6" style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"|The Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics was formed on July 1, 1973

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| 5

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| George B. Field

| July 1, 1973

| 1982

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| 6

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| Irwin I. Shapiro

| 1982

| 2004

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| 7

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| Charles R. Alcock

| August 1, 2004

| January 1, 2022

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| 8

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| Lisa Kewley

| July 1, 2022

| present

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Table notes:

Remote stations

SAO has operated a number of remote stations over the years. ]]

Directors

  • Samuel Pierpont Langley 1890–1906
  • Charles Greeley Abbot 1906–1942
  • Lisa Kewley 2022–present

Associates

  • Margaret Sordahl

See also

  • List of astronomical societies

References

  • SAO homepage
  • Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian