the soar telescope

The SOAR Telescope

MSU’s Laboratory for Astronomical Discovery

An International Partnership

Cerro Pachón,Chile

Brazil

National Optical Astronomy

Observatory

An International Partnership

Cerro Pachón,Chile

Brazil

National Optical Astronomy

Observatory

$32M construction 11 20 yrs operation$43M

MSU: $6M, 14% share, 40 nights/yr

The Site: Cerro Pachón

The Site: Cerro Pachón

Cerro Pachón, Chile.

• 9000’ altitude.

• In Andes Mountains.

The Site: Cerro Pachón

Cerro Pachón, Chile.

• 9000’ altitude.

• In Andes Mountains.

• One of worlds’ best astronomical sites

• Dark skies

• Clear skies

• Very little air turbulence.

The Site: Cerro Pachón

InsideInside the dome…

A bigtelescope

Some small people

3-mirror optical path

M2

M3Fast tip-tilt

M1Primary Mirror

Instrument (analyzes light)

3-mirror optical path

M2

M3Fast tip-tilt

M1Primary Mirror

Instrument (analyzes light)

3-mirror optical path

M2

M3Fast tip-tilt

M1Primary Mirror

Instrument (analyzes light)

3-mirror optical path

M2

M3Fast tip-tilt

M1Primary Mirror

Instrument (analyzes light)

3-mirror optical path

M2

M3Fast tip-tilt

M1Primary Mirror

Instrument (analyzes light)

The Primary Mirror (being installed in its supporting cell)

Glass primary mirror: 14 feet in diameter x 4 inches thick

Mirror Cell: 120 computer-controlled

force actuators

Many different instruments available.

Analyze light in different ways

Optical Imager

Optical Spectrograph

Optical IFU Spectrograph

Infrared Spectrograph

Infrared Imager

Many different instruments available.

Analyze light in different ways

Optical Imager

Optical Spectrograph

Optical IFU Spectrograph

Infrared Spectrograph

Infrared Imager

The Spartan Infrared Camera

• Built in MSU’s astronomical instrumentation lab.

• 40962 pixel detector array.

• Highest possible angular resolution.

• Wide field of view.

Why build a 4-meter diameter ground-based telescope?

Wavelength of light

The Electromagnetic Spectrum and Absorption by the Earth’s Atmosphere:

Why build a 4-meter diameter ground-based telescope?

Wavelength of light

The Electromagnetic Spectrum and Absorption by the Earth’s Atmosphere:

Light from outer spacecannot penetrate below

this altitude.

Why build a 4-meter diameter ground-based telescope?

Wavelength of light

The Electromagnetic Spectrum and Absorption by the Earth’s Atmosphere:

Light from outer spacecannot penetrate below

this altitude.

Telescopes must be in space to observe at x-ray, ultra-violet, or far-infrared wavelengths:

• Chandra X-Ray satellite

• Hubble Space Telescope

• Spitzer Infrared satellite

Why build a 4-meter diameter ground-based telescope?

Wavelength of light

Why build a 4-meter diameter ground-based telescope?

Ground-based optical-IR telescopes complement space observatories:

Wavelength of light

Why build a 4-meter diameter ground-based telescope?

Ground-based optical-IR telescopes complement space observatories:

Wavelength of light

We use ground-based telescopes at these

wavelengths.

Why build a 4-meter diameter ground-based telescope?

Ground-based optical-IR telescopes complement space observatories:

Wavelength of light

We use ground-based telescopes at these

wavelengths.

Why build a 4-meter diameter ground-based telescope?

• SOAR’s infrared images as sharp as Hubble’s!

Ground-based optical-IR telescopes complement space observatories:

Wavelength of light

We use ground-based telescopes at these

wavelengths.

Why build a 4-meter diameter ground-based telescope?

• SOAR’s infrared images as sharp as Hubble’s!

• Much less expensive than telescope in space!