MMT Observatory

31.688777777778 - 110.88455555556Koordinaten: 31 ° 41 ' 20 " N, 110 ° 53 ' 4" W

The Multiple Mirror Telescope Mirror Telescope or Magnum (MMT ) is a reflecting telescope with a 6.5 m diameter. It is located at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, in 2606m altitude at Mount Hopkins (Arizona ), USA. The observatory is operated by the University of Arizona and the Smithsonian Institution.

The MMT realized new concepts in the construction of large telescopes. The BTA -6 on Selentschuk Observatory, it was one of the first large telescopes with azimuthal mount that is standard for large telescopes today. From the outside it shows instead a classic dome a then atypical buildings in which walls and roof can be pushed away. Thus the telescope adapts quickly to the ambient temperature and can provide pictures of undisturbed thermal turbulence.

The primary mirror was the time from 1979 to 1998 from 6 individual mirror elements with a diameter of 1.8 m, the telescope gave his first name. The six mirrors were originally designed for military satellites, as they were not needed for that they could be used for astronomical research. After 1998, the MMT was with a primary mirror made of one piece, after which relates his present name, equipped and in 2000 returned to service.

The end of 2002, a novel deformable secondary mirror was added to the telescope, which implements an adaptive optics. This compensates for atmospheric disturbances in the observation. In contrast to other adaptive optics that are executed separately, here the number of optical elements in the beam path is minimized, resulting in excellent image results with observations in the infrared.