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- Numéro 5 - 6
- Auxiliary Telescopes at Dome C
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Auxiliary Telescopes at Dome C
Proceedings of the European Interferometry Initiative Workshop organized in the context of the 20005 Joint European and National Astronomy Meeting "Distant Worlds"?
Abstract
The Auxiliary Telescopes (AT) designed and manufactured by AMOS S.A. are part of the VLT Interferometer (VLTI) located on Cerro Paranal - Chile. Two of four are available for regular observation with the MIDI instrument from October 2005. These 2 m-class turn-key telescopes are autonomous, with their enclosure, air conditioning, translating and positioning system, etc. Their dedication to interferometry is present at each level of design, manufacturing and testing. the exciting perspectives of observation conditions at Dome C - Antarctica promote that site as one of the best candidates to install the next generations of terrestrial optical arrays. The knowledge acquired with the Auxiliary Telescope System (ATS) could greatly help to make the good choices in the early months of a new interferometer development. This article presents an overview of the main features of the ATS and its adequacy with Atacama desert conditions. The winterisation consists in making it operational in Antarctic conditions: this is of special concern to the concept, the engineering, the technologies, the testing and the deployment. The aim is to judge the effort to bring the auxiliary telescopes on top of Dome C.
To cite this article
About: O. Pirnay
Advanced Mechanical and Optical Systems (AMOS S.A.), rue des Chasseurs ardennais, B-4031 Angleur (Liège), BELGIUM
About: C. Flebus
Advanced Mechanical and Optical Systems (AMOS S.A.), rue des Chasseurs ardennais, B-4031 Angleur (Liège), BELGIUM
About: P. Gloesener
Advanced Mechanical and Optical Systems (AMOS S.A.), rue des Chasseurs ardennais, B-4031 Angleur (Liège), BELGIUM