Astronomical Observatory of Mallorca
The Astronomical Observatory of Mallorca (Spanish: Observatorio Astronómico de Mallorca, OAM) is an observatory just south of Costitx, Mallorca, Spain.
| Alternative names | ca |
|---|---|
| Observatory code | 620 |
| Location | Costitx, Mallorca, Spain |
| Coordinates | 39.642528°N 2.950516°E |
| Established | May 1991 |
| Website | http://www.oam.es/ |
Location of Astronomical Observatory of Mallorca | |
| see § List of discovered minor planets |
The observatory was inaugurated in May 1991 and was the first astronomical center in the Balearic Islands autonomous community and province of Spain.
The observatory is a pioneer among Spanish observatories and uses robotic telescopes (four of them located at La Sagra in Andalucia) to discover and track asteroids.
Researchers at the OAM have found asteroids that are potential threats to Earth, such as the 2006 WH1. Salvador Sánchez is director of the OAM. In 2008, asteroid number 128036, discovered at the OAM in 2003, was named after Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal. As of 2008, the OAM tracks more than 2,000 asteroids.
There is a large planetarium attached to the observatory, which often runs performances open to the public. The Open University is one of a number of academic institutions which runs summer schools at the observatory.
In March 2017, the observatory has closed and gone into liquidation. The land will be up for auction at €1.7 million.