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

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



IGP Observatories and Geomagnetic Stations



AREQUIPA

ICA - GUADALUPE

CAÑETE

JICAMARCA

HUANCAYOANCON

300 km

Huancayo Geophysical Observatory



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



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



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



Near a dozen of workers of Huancayo Observatory were trained in Japan

Deep crisis 1980 - 1990



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!



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



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



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”



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



Celebrating 52 Years Work of Mutsumi Ishitsuka

International Workshop on NEW ASTRONOMICAL FACILITIES IN PERU, in honor to Mutsumi Ishitsuka



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



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



Flare Monitor Telescope - FMT



Housing FMT and 60 cm Telescope

This year we are planning to install FMT and 60 cm Reflector Telescope for astronomical observations



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



And more

Public outreach activities are performed in different places, Galileo Telescope Project, Drawing Contest and Lectures



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



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.



Lack of Science Policy of Government

Development of Sciences depends on people attitude

To reflect



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?!

Documents

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