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The 3.8 meter United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) is
the largest telescope
in the world dedicated solely to observations at infrared wavelengths
between 1
micron and 30 microns. Because seeing is better in the infrared than
at visible
wavelengths, and because the telescope's optical performance has been
enhanced, the
image quality is better than that of optical telescopes of similar size.
In fact at a
wavelength of 2 microns (the K band) the best UKIRT images thus far
recorded rival
in diameter. Rapid controlled movements of this secondary nirror
helps eliminate image
motion due to the atmosphere (seeing fluctuations), windshake of the
telescope, or
some tracking imperfections. This telescope along with the JCMT is
part of the Joint Astronomy
Centre.
http://www.jach.hawaii.edu/UKIRT/
http://www.jach.hawaii.edu/UKIRT/telescope/description.html
http://www.jach.hawaii.edu/UKIRT/telescope/struct_and_optics.html
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When I visited Hawaii a few years ago, I was invited by the
kind staff at UKIRT to
spend the night with them at an
observing session. Here is their control
room. Only
three other people were there -- the telescope operator, an English
professor of
astronomy and his graduate student. They were doing infrared spectroscopy
on a
variety of stars that night. |