History

The crowning architectural feature of the F.W. Olin Physical Sciences Center at Florida Tech is the Ortega Observatory; equipped with a 0.8-meter (32-inch) telescope. In 2004, Florida Tech obtained National Science Foundation (NSF) funding to build a 24-inch telescope atop the newly completed F.W. Olin Physical Sciences Center. However, Melbourne Beach resident Jim Ortega, who had retired from the University of Virginia to Florida in 1998, stepped forward with the additional funds needed to secure a 32-inch telescope and therefore created the Ortega Observatory.

The Ortega Observatory now serves as the primary training and research instrument for astronomy faculty and students. The observatory is also home to the Florida Tech S3 student organization. For additional information on the observatory and its programs, contact us or visit our resources and links page. 

Ortega Telescope Specifications

Dedicated to James and Sara Ortega on April 12th, 2008.

Manufactured by DFM Engineering. 

Optics:

• Cassegrain design
  
  
• 0.8 meter (32-inch) primary mirror
  
  
• F/8 focal ratio
  
  
• Both primary and secondary mirrors have a near zero expansion substrate
  
  
• Tracking accuracy of +/- 0.5 arc seconds in 5 minutes and +/- 5.0 arcseconds in 1 hour