University of Toronto Southern Observatory

At the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, the University of Toronto once ran its own small research station, remembered today for a single, historic discovery.

About University of Toronto Southern Observatory

Known as UTSO, the observatory was built by the University of Toronto among the instruments of other organizations at Las Campanas, and included a cottage for its operators.

History

Observations began in 1971, using a 60 cm Cassegrain telescope. The observatory became famous in 1987, when University of Toronto astronomer Ian Shelton spotted the supernova SN 1987A while observing with another small telescope at the site. UTSO operated until 1997, when it was shut down in favour of a partial share in a larger telescope.

Location & getting there

The site lies within the Las Campanas Observatory complex in the Atacama region of northern Chile.

Visiting University of Toronto Southern Observatory

UTSO is no longer an active facility; visitors interested in the Las Campanas site should check the current operator's website for information on today's telescopes there.

See your named star from here

Once you've named a star with Star Register, sites like Las Campanas, where a supernova was once found by chance, are a reminder of what a telescope pointed at the right coordinates can reveal. Look up your star in our catalogue.