The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is a "research institute" of the Smithsonian Institution headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where it is joined with the Harvard College Observatory (HCO) to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). More than 300 scientists at the CfA are engaged in a broad program of research in astronomy, astrophysics, earth and space sciences, and science education.

The SAO was founded in 1890 by Smithsonian Secretary Samuel Pierpont Langley. It moved from Washington, D.C., to Cambridge in 1955.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory is managed and operated by SAO from Cambridge. With the University of Arizona, SAO also manages the MMT Observatory.

External Link

• SAO website