Advances in Astronomy and
Astrophysics in the Last Years in Peru
Ph.D. José K. Ishitsuka et al.Astronomy Division
Geophysical Institute of Peru
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Summary
Observatories and Geomagnetic Stations of IGP
Brief history of Geophysical Institute of Peru – IGP
Recent achievements in Astronomy
Opportunities
Conclusions
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
IGP Observatories and Geomagnetic Stations
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
AREQUIPA
ICA - GUADALUPE
CAÑETE
JICAMARCA
HUANCAYOANCON
300 km
Huancayo Geophysical Observatory
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Contributions
In 1935 Solar observations begun with a Hale type Solar Spectrograph
Cosmic Ray observations begun with a Forbush detector that was installed in 1936
Discovery of Forbush Effect
Discovery of Equatorial Electrojet
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Solar Physics
In 1957 year of International Geophysical Year, Solar Physicist Mutsumi Ishitsuka of Kyoto University arrived to Huancayo
A new coelostat was installed in 1960s
A new Monochromatic Heliograph was installed in 1965
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Solar Physics
A new Radio Polarimeter arrived in Huancayo and begun solar observations at 9.4 GHz in 1965
A new Coronagraph Observatory is inaugurated in 1978, at 4,600 meters of altitude, about 70 Km from Huancayo
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Near a dozen of workers of Huancayo Observatory were trained in Japan
Deep crisis 1980 - 1990
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Crisis
Due to economic crisis there were no funds to run observatories
Coronagraph Observatory was occupied by terrorist and destroyed in 1988
In 1990s, the Government Policy to reduce Public Institutions, in Huancayo Observatory number of workers were reduced from 50 to three!
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Ancon Observatory
Due to dead threat to Mutsumi Ishitsuka and the possibility to loose magnetometers en Huancayo, Mutsumi Ishitsuka was moved to Ancon Observatory and begun to establish Geomagnetic and Solar observations, early 1990s
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Ancon Observatory
In 1994 Cultural Grant of Government of Japan donated a set of new magnetometers and telescopes
CPMN magnetometers were installed in Ancon, Cañete and Guadalupe
In October of 2006 MAGDAS magnetometer from Kyushu University begun operation
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
A new Planetarium
In 2008 a new Planetarium opened, is a Cultural Grant from the Government of Japan
Planetarium was named:
Planetario Nacional Peruano-Japonés “Mutsumi Ishitsuka”
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Astrophysics with a Radio Telescope
After 6 years of negotiation with a telephone company IGP could get a 32 meter antenna, it will be transformed into a radio telescope to observe Star Forming Regions
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Celebrating 52 Years Work of Mutsumi Ishitsuka
International Workshop on NEW ASTRONOMICAL FACILITIES IN PERU, in honor to Mutsumi Ishitsuka
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Solar Physics at a National University
In 2002 a 15 cm telescope was installed at the roof of the Faculty of Sciences of Ica National University to make sunspot observations
In 2009 a new Solar Observatory within the University Campus is almost ready to begin solar observations
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Solar Spectrograph
Thanks to National Astronomical Observatory of Japan the old coelostat from Huancayo could be refurbished and modernized and it is installed in the new Solar Station of Ica University
Exchange of people between Japan and Peru (Ica) is strengthening local university
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Flare Monitor Telescope - FMT
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Housing FMT and 60 cm Telescope
This year we are planning to install FMT and 60 cm Reflector Telescope for astronomical observations
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Sliding roof is in process of design
Largest Telescope in Peru
60 cm Telescope will be installed temporarily at Ica University until we could get budgets to construct the Astronomical Observatory
Telescope is ready and waiting to be send to Peru. Thanks to Prof. Takehiko Kuroda from Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory of Japan
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
And more
Public outreach activities are performed in different places, Galileo Telescope Project, Drawing Contest and Lectures
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
LAGO-PERU Group if formed to install Cosmic Ray Detectors, the first one will be installed in Huancayo
Astronomy Group of National Engineering University will install a Astronomical Observatory in Huancayo Observatory
Opportunities
Peruvian economy is stable for at least two periods
Universities are having funds that is some percentage of Mining taxes of mines that are within the region
There are few scientific projects in universities that fulfils strict rules to use taxes from mining
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Conclusions
In Peru we are having significant advances and it possible because of some political, social and economic stability.
We had many international cooperation but it is not everything, may be only a trigger for a real development.
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
Lack of Science Policy of Government
Development of Sciences depends on people attitude
To reflect
September 22nd 20092009 UN/NASA/ESA/JAXA Workshop on
BSS & IHY 2007, Daejeon, Korea
A 5000 year old culture was found in Peru, CARAL
There are not signs of war: no army
No signs of sacrificial: no religion
Most important people in this society were: astronomers!
The ideal society?!
Top Related