Large Binocular Telescope

The Large Binocular Telescope ( LBT abbreviated to German " large binocular telescope" ) is a telescope for astronomical observations. It stands on the 3267 meter high Mount Graham in Arizona and is part of the Mount Graham International Observatory. The LBT has two 8.4 -meter primary mirror, which achieve the same light gathering power as a single 11.8 -meter telescope. In addition, it reaches the optical resolution of a 22.8 -meter mirror. In test shots it reached a Strehl ratio of 0.6 to 0.8 (a value of 1 would correspond to a perfect image). Further tests showed values ​​from 0.82 to 0.84.

One of the primary mirror of the LBT had his First light, for which the our Milky Way very similar spiral nebula NGC 891 was chosen on 12 October 2005. End of 2007, the second 36 - megapixel CCD camera was finally delivered, so that the first light of the LBT could be done in binocular mode.

Joint project of three states

The new observatory, the 8- year construction period as a joint project of the United States (25 percent University of Arizona, 12.5 percent Research Corporation, 12.5 percent of Ohio State University), Germany (25 percent LBT investment company = Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam, Heidelberg State Observatory ) and Italy (25 percent INAF ) was built, is at 3200 meters high Mount Graham. Thanks to the 25 percent stake, the German astronomer secure even a quarter of the observation time.

His full performance reached the double telescope after the necessary test and adjustment as in spring 2008. This refers to the two primary focus cameras. All instruments of the first generation together should be operational by 2011. In its design, it is the world's largest optical telescope. While there are telescopes with larger individual mirrors and also Langbasisinterferometrie, but in other interferometers have no common mirror mount.

Concept

By using two mirrors ( they weigh about 16 tons each ) instead of a single reach significant advantages:

  • The double telescope collects the same amount of light as a 11.8 - meter mirror; it would be up to 2.5 million kilometers Distance ( 7-fold Moon distance) still can resolve the light from two 100 meters apart burning candles individually.
  • The optical resolution of the LBT can be increased by interferometry on a 22.8 -meter mirror.
  • With the help of interferometry and the light from the central stars to be virtually hidden to make their eventual planet directly visible ( " nulling interferometry ").

German astrophysicists and cosmologists want to research in Arizona in the field of star formation of the first stars.

Cost control and first measurements

Construction and equipment cost around 100 million euros. The LBT- holding company ( LBT ) is a community of five research institutes in Germany, participating in the Large - Binocular - Telescope project ( LBT project ). Five German institutes develop the associated astronomical instruments:

  • Max Planck Institute for Astronomy ( MPIA), Heidelberg
  • Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics ( MPE), Garching
  • Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR ), Bonn
  • Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam ( AIP)
  • Heidelberg State Observatory king chair

The primary focus cameras LBC and LBC -RED -BLUE have been developed by the Italian Instituto Nazionale di Astrofisica ( INAF ). At the University of Arizona hardware and software is developed. The following tools will be developed for the LBT, which are to be successively integrated by the end of 2009 at the telescope:

  • LBT NIR - Spectroscopic Utility with Camera and Integral Field Unit for Extragalactic Research ( LUCIFER LBT )
  • Large Binocular Camera Blue ( LBC)
  • Large Binocular Camera Red ( LBC)
  • Multi -Object Spectrograph Double ( MODS )
  • LBT Interferometric Camera ( Linc - Nirvana)
  • LBT interferometer ( LBTI )
  • Potsdam Echelle Spectroscopic and polarimetric instrument ( LBT- Pepsi)
  • ARGOS (Advanced Rayleigh Ground Layer Adaptive Optics System Guided ) Artificial star of the next generation; per eye of the LBT will serve three green laser (532 nm) to correct for atmospheric turbulence.

The first of the twin mirror was mounted in October 2004, the second one followed in the fall of 2005, after passing through lengthy polishing received its final form in Tucson 2004/ 05. On 26 October 2005, the first recordings were released, they show the galaxy NGC 891 and were made on 12 October 2005. Since early 2007, the first regular scientific observations with the LBT and the LBC- Blue be performed. The first images show impressive performance of the LBT. Shortly, LBC -Red will go into operation.

Protests against the project

Apaches and environmentalists protested against the project, resulting in the construction was delayed several times. The Apaches will be holy mountain. The conservationists are concerned that a particular ecosystem would be damaged with five climate zones.

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