The 31-inch (79 cm.) Tinsley reflector is located on Fan Mountain. The telescope is a general use reflector originally used with photomultipliers and a photographic plate spectrograph. Currenty extensive hardware upgrades and instrumentation efforts are underway to transform the observatory into a more modern research facility capable of IR imaging and grism spectroscopy. This upgrade and instrument project is funded through an NSF grant. Projects in the upgrade include: a drive system upgrade, a new IR Carmera, and an autoguider.

Due to the status of this upgrade project the 31-inch will only be avaialable for public nights, twice a year. For more information about the project or use of the telescope please contact Michael Skrutskie (mfs4n@virginia.edu)

The 31-inch (79 cm.) Tinsley reflector is located on Fan Mountain. Here is some information about the telescope.