The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory 6.5m telescope: project overview and current status

Y. Yoshii; M. Doi; K. Kohno; T. Miyata; K. Motohara; K. Kawara; M. Tanaka; T. Minezaki; S. Sako; T. Morokuma; Y. Tamura; T. Tanabe; H. Takahashi; M. Konishi; T. Kamizuka; N. Kato; T. Aoki; T. Soyano; K. Tarusawa; T. Handa; S. Koshida; L. Bronfman; M. T. Ruiz; M. Hamuy; G. Garay

doi:10.1117/12.2231391

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27 July 2016 The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory 6.5m telescope: project overview and current status

Y. Yoshii, M. Doi, K. Kohno, T. Miyata, K. Motohara, K. Kawara, M. Tanaka, T. Minezaki, S. Sako, T. Morokuma, Y. Tamura, T. Tanabe, H. Takahashi, M. Konishi, T. Kamizuka, N. Kato, T. Aoki, T. Soyano, K. Tarusawa, T. Handa, S. Koshida, L. Bronfman, M. T. Ruiz, M. Hamuy, G. Garay

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Proceedings Volume 9906, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes VI; 99060R (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2231391
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2016, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory Project is to construct a 6.5m infrared telescope at the summit of Co. Chajnantor (5640m altitude) in northern Chile, promoted by the University of Tokyo. Thanks to the dry climate (PWV~0.5mm) and the high altitude, it will achieve excellent performance in the NIR to MIR wavelengths. The telescope has two Nasmyth foci where the facility instruments are installed and two folded-Cassegrain foci for carry-in instruments. All these four foci can be switched by rotating a tertiary mirror. The final focal ratio is 12.2 and the telescope foci have large field-of-view of 25ʹ in diameter. We adopted the 6.5m light-weighted borosilicate honeycomb primary mirror and its support system that are developed by Steward Observatory Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab. The dome enclosure has the shape of carousel, and large ventilation windows with shutters control the wind to flush heat inside the dome. The operation building with control room, aluminizing chamber and maintenance facilities is located at the side of the dome. Two cameras, SWIMS for spectroscopy and imaging in the near-infrared and MIMIZUKU in the mid-infrared, are being developed as the first-generation facility instruments. The operation of the telescope will be remotely carried out from a base facility at San Pedro de Atacama, 50km away from the summit. The construction of the telescope is now underway. Fabrication of the telescope mount has almost finished, and the pre-assembly has been carried out in Japan. The primary, secondary, and tertiary mirrors and their cells have been also fabricated, as well as their cells and support systems. Fabrication of the enclosure is now underway, and their pre-assembly in Japan will be carried out in 2016. Construction of the base facility at San Pedro de Atacama has been already completed in 2014, and operated for the activities in Atacama. The telescope is now scheduled to see the first light at the beginning of 2018.

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Y. Yoshii, M. Doi, K. Kohno, T. Miyata, K. Motohara, K. Kawara, M. Tanaka, T. Minezaki, S. Sako, T. Morokuma, Y. Tamura, T. Tanabe, H. Takahashi, M. Konishi, T. Kamizuka, N. Kato, T. Aoki, T. Soyano, K. Tarusawa, T. Handa, S. Koshida, L. Bronfman, M. T. Ruiz, M. Hamuy, and G. Garay "The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory 6.5m telescope: project overview and current status", Proc. SPIE 9906, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes VI, 99060R (27 July 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2231391

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