Tenagra Observatories has a long a varied history of discovery.  Beginning with Supernova 1997cx, the Tenagra I telescope proved that relatively small telescopes (e.g. 0.36-m) can be used for routine examination of nearby galaxies and regular discovery of supernovae.  There are times when an error in this search can find an even more precious gem as in 1998di, only the 3rd known helium deficient dwarf nova.  It is estimated that only half the NEOs of 1 kilometer size have been discovered.  All Tenagra telescopes have discovered minor planets with a seemingly endless supply available through the 0.81-m (32") in Arizona.  Tenagra also abounds with discovery confirmations, regularly confirming supernovae, comets and unique phenomena such as the light echo around 838 Monoceratis.

The Tenagra I telescope was created for supernovae search.  At the time the search was begun the first automated small mounts appeared allowing unattended imaging of larger numbers of galaxies per night.  At this time the number of supernovae discovered with CCDs was very small, the most being 5 by a single individual other than Rev. Robert Evans who had discovered many more visually starting many years before the pack..  Tenagra's effort was the first to find supernovae in quantity and defined the hardware profile that would be used by virtually all amateurs after the first Tenagra discoveries.  All of the original Tenagra discoveries were made with a 0.36-m (14") F11 SCT.  Later ones were made with the first Tenagra II telescope.  In the summer of 2005 the Tenagra search was expanded with the placement of 14" F11 SCTs in Norway and Australia.

We were proud to be part of LOTOSS, the merging of Lick Observatory's search program (using the Katzman 30" telescope on Mt. Hamilton) and Tenagra Observatory telescopes to create the Lick Observatory Tenagra Observatory Supernova Search.  The Lick search has been by far the most successful of its kind and with combined forces we virtually doubled the number of nearby supernovae discoveries.

Tenagra Observatories (both TOSS and LOTOSS programs) have discovered over 175 supernovae making the largest contribution to the science of supernova and use of type Ia supernovae for cosmological purposes than any other private concern in the world.