| Location: | Harvard, Massachusetts |
| see |
The Oak Ridge Observatory (ORO, code: 801), also known as the George R. Agassiz Station, is located at 42 Pinnacle Road, Harvard, Massachusetts. It was operated by the Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian as a facility of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) from 1933 until August 19, 2005.[1]
The observatory was established in 1933. Through its first 40 years, its primary research focus was on tracking minor planets and asteroids in the Solar System. Starting in the 1980s, astronomers began to use the facility to measure stars over long periods of time, which led to hunts for extrasolar planets, i.e., planets outside the Solar System.
The largest telescope east of Texas in the United States is the 61-inch reflector (see Hobby-Eberly Telescope). However, most of its projects were discontinued in 2005. Harvard University's Optical SETI program continues at the site.
It also housed an 84feet steerable radio telescope once used in Project BETA, a search for extraterrestrial intelligence. A 41-cm (16-inch) Boller and Chivens Cassegrain reflector originally housed at Oak Ridge is available for public use at the National Air and Space Museum's Public Observatory Project on the National Mall in Washington, DC.[2]
The inner main-belt asteroid 4733 ORO, discovered at Oak Ridge in 1982, was named in honor of the observatory.
In addition to the discoveries below, the Minor Planet Center inconsistently credits some asteroids such as 4760 Jia-xiang directly to the Harvard College Observatory although they have been discovered at Oak Ridge.
| 27 January 1982 | |||
| 5 September 1981 | |||
| 13 September 1982 | |||
| 27 January 1982 | |||
| 23 December 1984 | |||
| 22 December 1987 | |||
| 3 October 1984 | |||
| 19 April 1982 | |||
| 25 September 1992 | |||
| 1 September 1986 | |||
| 11 September 1982 | |||
| 4 September 1983 | |||
| 30 September 1981 | |||
| 25 November 1981 |
| 3 October 1984 | |||
| 21 February 1985 | |||
| 24 November 1981 | |||
| 13 March 1991 | |||
| 19 August 1990 | |||
| 25 September 1989 | |||
| 16 August 1990 | |||
| 13 March 1991 | |||
| 17 August 1982 | |||
| 24 February 1982 | |||
| 24 August 1984 | |||
| 17 September 1985 | |||
| 8 October 1983 | |||
| 19 October 1984 |
| 2 August 1992 | |||
| 22 November 1995 | |||
| 8 September 1991 | |||
| 5 December 1986 | |||
| 16 October 1990 | |||
| 7 December 1988 | |||
| 13 August 1985 | |||
| 24 August 1984 | |||
| 5 September 1983 | |||
| 13 September 1982 |