A VLT Auxiliary Telescope and Cerro Armazones
There are four ATs on Cerro Paranal, which form part of the Very Large Telescope (VLT). They are used for a special technique called interferometry, which allows multiple ATs, or the even larger Unit Telescopes, to combine their power and see details up to 25 times finer possible than with the individual telescopes.
The round AT enclosure shown in the photo is made from two sets of three segments, which were closed at the time the picture was taken. Its job is to protect the delicate 1.8-metre telescope from the desert conditions. The enclosure is supported by the boxy transporter section, which also contains electronics cabinets, liquid cooling systems, air-conditioning units, power supplies, and more. During astronomical observations the enclosure and transporter are mechanically isolated from the telescope, to ensure that no vibrations compromise the data collected.
The transporter section runs on tracks, so the ATs can be moved to 30 different observing locations. As the VLT Interferometer (VLTI) acts rather like a single telescope as large as the group of telescopes combined, changing the positions of the ATs means that the VLTI can be adjusted according to the needs of the observing project.
Links
Relevantní obrázky
Relevantní články
Cerro ArmazonesCerro Armazones je hora v pohoří Sierra Vicuña Mackenna v chilských Andách v regionu Antofagasta. Nachází se v poušti Atacama 105 km jižně od města Antofagasta a 1000 km severně od hlavního města Santiago. Na jejím vrcholku staví Evropská jižní observatoř Extrémně velký dalekohled, největší připravovaný dalekohled světa. .. pokračovat ve čtení