Small Observatory Operations: 2018 Highlights from the West Mountain Observatory (Abstract)

Volume 47 number 1 (2019)

Michael Joner

Brigham Young University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, N-488 ESC, Provo, UT 84602 ; xxcygni@gmail.com

Abstract

(Abstract only) The West Mountain Observatory (WMO) is an off-campus astronomical observatory operated by Brigham Young University. WMO is located about 23 km southwest of the main BYU campus in Provo, Utah, at an elevation of 2,120 m. Observations are done for a variety of student and faculty projects using the three small telescopes (0.3 m, 0.5 m, and 0.9 m) housed at WMO. I will present a summary of recent upgrades and improvements at WMO, along with observational highlights from 2018 that include targets ranging from solar system objects out to active galaxies with a lot of ground to cover in between.