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This article or section contains information about an expected future scientific facility. It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change as the facility approaches completion. |
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The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) is a ground-based telescope planned for completion in 2016. It will consist of seven, 8.4-meter "primary" mirrors,[1] with the resolving power of a 24.5 metres (80 feet) primary mirror.[2] The telescope is expected to have over four times the light-gathering ability of existing instruments. The confirmed location of the telescope will be the Las Campanas Observatory,[3] which is also the site of the Magellan telescopes, near La Serena, Chile. La Serena was chosen as the telescope's location because of its clear weather throughout most of the year.[4] The design calls for the mirrors to be arranged not as off-axis but instead with a concentric focus, with one mirror in the center and the other six curving around it, giving a symmetrical focal plane. The intention is to build seven identical off-axis mirrors, so that a spare is available to substitute for a segment being recoated, a 1–2 week (per segment) process required every 1–2 years.[5] The mirrors are being constructed by the Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona, at a laboratory beneath the university's football stadium. The casting of the first mirror was completed on November 3, 2005, but the time-consuming shaping and polishing remains.
Organizations
The following is a list of the members of a consortium developing the telescope.[6]
- Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington (OCIW)
- Harvard University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
- Texas A&M University
- University of Arizona
- University of Michigan
- University of Texas at Austin
- Australian National University
References
- ^ Giant Magellan Telescope Partner Institutions. GMT Consortium. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
- ^ Maggie McKee. "Giant telescope in race to become world's largest", New Scientist, 2007-10-04. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
- ^ Giant Magellan telescope site selected. Carnegie Institution. Retrieved on 2007-10-05.
- ^ Robinson, Travis. "Eye on the sky", The Battalion, 2007-04-03. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
- ^ (February 2006) "Telescope Structure", GMT Conceptual Design Report. Retrieved on 2007-10-07. Section 7.4.5, page 7-17.
- ^ Giant Magellan Telescope Partner Institutions. GMT Consortium. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
