Recent developments at the multiple mirror telescope.
Abstract
Although the Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) is a major astronomical facility in virture of its large collecting area (equivalent to a 4.5-m diameter single mirror telescope), it serves an equally important function as a testbed for unconventional, potentially lower cost (despite superior performance) telescope designs. The unconventional features being refined by the MMT include the use of multiple primary mirrors, an altitude-over-azimuth (rather than equatorial) mount, a barn-like enclosure, hollow 'egg-crate' fused silica mirrors, and precision ball bearings. Attention is given to the coalignment hardware and procedures used for the six primary mirrors, the image quality and interferometer performance achieved, and the annual service profile of the MMT.
- Publication:
-
Adaptive optics systems and technology
- Pub Date:
- 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.934194
- Bibcode:
- 1983SPIE..365....2B
- Keywords:
-
- Mirrors;
- Reflecting Telescopes;
- Technology Assessment;
- Adaptive Optics;
- Alignment;
- Cost Reduction;
- High Resolution;
- Image Resolution;
- Interferometry;
- Pointing Control Systems;
- Systems Engineering;
- Astronomy;
- MMT