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Physical Society Colloquium
Gerald Cecil
Project Scientist, International SOAR Telescope A dozen large telescopes are entering operation. Together they will more than quadruple the light collecting-area world-wide for astrophysical research. Until large space telescopes are constructed beginning in about 15 years, these 6.5-10m diameter telescopes will be the tools of choice to study the universe. I will first outline the technologies that have combined to enhance the performance of optical systems. These technical developments have also reduced the cost of a smaller telescope to the point where it can be built by a small consortium of public universities, yet allow it to retain most of the capabilities of its larger cousins. The project that I am involved in -- SOAR -- is a 4.2m-aperture telescope to be sited atop a 9000' mountain in the Chilean Andes; the telescope will be finished in 3 years. I will describe the technical and programmatic challenges that our team are overcoming to deliver superb images at a comparatively low cost (US$24M.) SOAR will incorporate active and adaptive optics, and modern instruments, to compete with larger ground-based telescopes, the Hubble Space Telescopes, and follow-up space observatories. Finally, I will show how these different capabilities mesh scientifically, by using examples from my own research on ground-based and space observatories.
Monday, April 12th 1999, 15:30 |