2008 0614 LBT Tour - Del Gordon

The Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) Tour
--- Photos by Del Gordon ---
June 14, 2008



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Dr. John Hill, Project Director of the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). The LBT is a collaboration between the Italian astronomical community, the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, the LBT Beteiligungsgesellschaft in Germany, The Ohio State University, Research Corporation in Tucson, and the University of Notre Dame.
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Dr. John Hill, LBT Project Director, describes the main components of the telescope. HAC President Wayne Johnson listens intently.
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Dr. John Hill describes the main components of the LBT. The height of the LBT bulding is 40 meters (131 feet) at the roofline.
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Dr. John Hill explains how the LBT works. The telescope weighs about 580 metric tons (639 tons) but can be rotated and pointed smoothly and precisely.
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The LBT uses an elevation over an azimuth mounting. The elevation optical support structure moves on two large C-shaped rings and the compact azimuth platform transmits the loads directly down to the pier. The two 8.4 meter (331 inch) diameter primary mirrors are mounted with a 14.4 meter center-center separation. By using swing arms to rotate the secondary mirrors and their supports, it is possible to switch the telescope from one mode of observation to another very quickly. The short focal length of the primary mirrors (f/1.142) permits a compact, and therefore quite stiff telescope structure.
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This is the "bell jar" used to coat the mirrors with aluminum. The bell jar is lifted onto the mirrors through a hatch using a crane.

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