What Is the Correct Term for an Astronomy Lab Without Its Own Telescopes?

[DHF]

Hello, I am doing research for a story but my question pertains directly to Astronomy so I felt it fit here better than the sci-fi board.

The main character is an Astronomer who works in a lab that receives data from the Dish in Parkes Australia. The lab she works at does not have a telescope or any observation devices, they simply comb through the data sent from other observatories.

The question is: what would her facility be called? is it still referred to as an observatory even though they don't have a dish or optical scope? All the research I have done so far returns with links to classic observatories. Is there a specific name for a lab like this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dr. Courtney]

I think calling a facility an observatory will be open to criticism if it does not at least have some teaching grade equipment for making rudimentary observations. Combine some teaching grade observational equipment with world-class analyzing capabilities and the name "observatory" seems much more palatable.

 

[DHF]

That was my thought, I don't want it confused with an observatory. I was hoping there was a more specific name for a facility that does not have observational equipment. This is important to the story because the character starts off in a research field and soon discovers that she enjoys teaching so moves to an observatory and later takes a position teaching at a university.

 

[Dr. Courtney]

Why not just "Research Institute"?

 

[DHF]

That is pretty much what I have been referring to it as. I just didn't know if there was a more specific title. I didnt want to call it an observatory for the reasons you mentioned.

 

[rootone]

NASA has such a facility, they call it the 'Advanced supercomputing division'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Advanced_Supercomputing_Division

The equipment there is not dedicated to a single project, or even dedicated just to astronomy, different teams apply for and are allotted usage time