New telescope

1990/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astronomia

A new telescope (NOT) with special design features has been launched in La Palma de las Islas Canarias. Built jointly by Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, this telescope features the lightest and thinnest mirror for its size. The primary mirror of f/2 has a thickness of only 18 cm and a weight less than two tons. The use of an advanced technology mirror has made it possible that it only has a length of 5 m. Consequently, it has a small and cheap dome.

The NOTAS mirror is made with a ceramic glass without expansion called Zerodur. • Since modifications do not affect the mirror, it has no problem maintaining its shape. Being a thin mirror, it cools quickly and no hot air bags are formed that blur the view on it. The resolution of the telescope is half the second arc.

The NOT telescope will be used at night and day. At night optical observations will be made and infrared day. NOT is expected to work an average of 20 hours a day.