News from the Roque
The 10-m GTC project
is making visible good progress. As can be seen from the web cameras on the
GTC’s web page the telescope mount has been completed, and the telescope
structure itself is being mounted inside the dome. At the time of writing
the mirror support cell is already completed. The first mirror segments have
been received, as are the first instrument components such as the aquisition
and guiding units and the commissioning camera. First light for this telescope
is coming closer !
The large Cherenkov telescope, MAGIC, is nearly fully operational. All mirrors
have been fitted, providing for an impressive sight at night as well as during
the day. First detections have already been registered early in the year.
The ‘Counting House’ has been constructed close to the telescope, also containing
a dome that will host a small telescope used for calibration purposes. Furthermore,
advanced plans exist for the construction of a second telescope of similar
characteristics as MAGIC-1 and will be placed in the same area.
|
| MAGIC telescope and GTC (photo courtesy Francesca
Phillips). [ JPEG | TIFF
]
|
The SuperWASP (Wide Angle Search for Planets) project is now fully operational
and has been collecting data already for several months, but still under
the watchful eye of an observer. The telescope was inaugurated very appropriately
in a remote fashion in April. The system has operated throughout summer in
an automatic fashion. Later this year the telescope is expected to start
full robotic operation and be fitted with the full complement of 8 cameras.
|
| SuperWASP and WHT in the background. [ JPEG | TIFF ]
|
The Liverpool telescope has had its first robotic observations earlier in
the year. Following an upgrade to the hydraulic system for the enclosure
the telescope will be ready for full operation.
¤
Email contact: René
Rutten (
rgmr@ing.iac.es)
