Givatayim Observatory

Infobox Observatory
name = Givatayim Observatory


caption =
organization = Israeli Astronomical Association, Givatayim Municipality
location = Tel Aviv, Israel
coords = coord|32|04|11.28|N|34|48|55.15|E|type:landmark
altitude = 87 m (280 ft)
weather =
established = 1968
closed =
website= [http://www.astronomy.org.il/joomlafimal/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=146 Givatayim Observatory at the Israeli Astronomical Association website]
telescope1_name = Primary Telescope
telescope1_type = 16 inch (40 centimetre) Meade LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain
telescope2_name = Secondary Telescope
telescope2_type = 12 inch (30 centimetre) Meade LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain

The Givatayim Observatory was founded in 1968 by the Israeli Astronomical Association and the Givatayim municipiality.

Activities

These are some of the activities taking place in the observatory:

* Public lectures and observations every Tuesday and Thursday at 20:00.

* Israeli Astronomical Association lectures every Thursday at 21:20.

* Astronomy courses for adults, teenagers and children

* Seminars for teachers

* Hosting and promoting high school projects

* Bachelor students and highschool research activities (e.g., NEOs, variable stars, extrasolar planets)

The observatory is placed on a hill (87m above sea level) inside a public park in Givatayim (Second Alyia Park, at the corner of Golomb and BeReshit Street). Givatayim is a town adjacent to Tel Aviv.

Equipment

*Meade 16-inch LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope
*Meade 12-inch LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope
*Meade 16-inch Starfinder Newtonian telescope
*6-inch Coude refractor
*Coronado 40mm PST
*Various smaller telescopes
*Meade Deep Sky Imager (color and pro version)
*Meade Pictor 1616
*Meade Lunar-Planetary Imager

The main telescope (16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope) is located in a dome and is dedicated to imaging and research. The other telescopes are operated on an observation terrace next to the dome. The sky in Givatayim is highly light polluted. The situation deteriorated during the last years due to new skyscrapers (Azrieli Center, City Gate, new government building etc.), which are illuminated from below by strong floodlights, sending their light cones into the sky. Moreover, during the last years the bad habbit of huge advertisement walls, also illuminated by strong spotlights, became widespread. Many of these spotlights are misdirected, sending their light into the sky.

Since 1984 Dr. Igal Patel is the head of the observatory and of the Israeli Astronomical Association. The administrative manager of the observatory is Shony Lotan.The observatory staff consists of about 20 people with specialities in different fields.