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3.5 meter Telescope Facility
The 3.5 meter telescope facility is expected to become one
of the world's most capable for obtaining ultra-high resolution images at
visible wavelengths. Near diffraction limited performance (in the 0.6-1.0 micron
wavelength region and to an apparent visual magnitude limit greater than tenth)
will be achieved within the next few years through the use of high-order
adaptive optics and a sodium wavelength laser beacon. First light with the
adaptive optics installed was achieved in September of 1997. View the binary
star image taken on the 3.5m telescope with adaptive optics. Much attention
has also been directed at minimizing thermally-induced turbulence throughout the
3.5 meter telescope facility. The outstanding example of this effort is a fully
collapsible telescope enclosure. The facility is cooled by a closed-cycle water
system chilled by ice stored underground, away from the facility. The 3.5 meter
telescope is a classical Cassegrainian optical design with a coudé path.
Sensors and other auxiliary instrumentation can be mounted at one of two
Naysmyth optical breadboards on the telescope itself or in one of several coudé
laboratories.
Questions, comments and suggestions can be directed to the
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