Loiano observing site

The 152 cm telescope at the Loiano observing site

Involved people at OAB:

• Scientific staff: R. Merighi, V. Zitelli.

• Technical staff: S. Bernabei, A. De Blasi, R. Gualandi, I.Bruni, R. Mezzini, I. Muzi, P. Salomoni, G. Bregoli, C. Ciattaglia, G. Innocenti.

Loiano, observing site of Bologna Observatory, is located at 785 m above sea level and at 37 km from Bologna. In Loiano are located 3 buildings (two hosting the 152 cm and 60 cm telescopes, and one the guest house), and 23 hectares of wood. Zitelli is the person in charge of Loiano observing site.

The 152 cm telescope, dedicated to G.D. Cassini, was built by Reosc and has been operated since 1976. A general description of Cassini telescope is given in Table 1.

The main focal instruments presently available at the telescope are:

1. A spectrograph/focal reducer, BFOSC (Bologna Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera), based on transmitting optics ranging from 330 to 1100 nm. It is equipped with a CCD camera EEV $1340\times 1300$. A Thomson CCD $1024\times 1024$ can be used as backup system.
   Two sets of filters are available: a standard Johnson-Kron-Cousins system and a Gunn system.

2. A ``classical", cooled, five colour Photoelectric Photometer .

3. A two channel Photoelectric Photometer (3 colours).

BFOSC has been the most scheduled instrument, with about 80% of the total allocated time.

The 60 cm telescope was built in 1933 by Zeiss of Jena. It was originally equipped with a photographic camera at the f/3 direct focus. Recently it was modified to a f/20 Cassegrain and in the focal plane it can be mounted either a photoelectric photometer or a new CCD Peltier cooled (with a Marconi chip and camera controller from Italian DTA). With these two instruments it is possible to use the time of this telescope for both a scientific use and teaching activities for the graduate students.
From April to September the telescope hosts, since 5 years, also an educational activity in collaboration with Loiano council.

Table 1. Cassini telescope
Mount type	English
Optical configuration	Ritchey-Chretien
Main mirror diameter	152 cm
Focal ratio (main mirror)	f/3
Cassegrain focus	equivalent focal length 1200 cm
	equivalent focal ratio f/8
	scale 16.8 arcsec/mm
	FOV 70 arcmin