Commissioning experience with the 9.2-m Hobby-Eberly Telescope

Thomas G. Barnes; Mark T. Adams; John A. Booth; Mark E. Cornell; Niall Gaffney; James R. Fowler; Gary J. Hill; Grant M. Hill; Craig Nance; Francois Piche; Lawrence W. Ramsey; Randall L. Ricklefs; William J. Spiesman; P. Thomas Worthington

Commissioning experience with the 9.2-m Hobby-Eberly Telescope

Thomas G. Barnes, Mark T. Adams, John A. Booth, Mark E. Cornell, Niall Gaffney, James R. Fowler, Gary J. Hill, Grant M. Hill, Craig Nance, Francois Piche, Lawrence W. Ramsey, Randall L. Ricklefs, William J. Spiesman, P. Thomas Worthington

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The HET is unique among 9-meter class telescopes in featuring an Arecibo-like design with a focal surface tracker. The focal surface tracker causes image quality and pointing/tracking performance to interact in a complex way that has no precedent in astronomical telescope system design and that has presented unusual demands upon commissioning. The fixed-elevation, segmented primary-mirror array offers some simplifications over traditional telescope design in principle, but has presented challenges in practice. The sky access characteristics of the HET also place unique demands on observational planning and discipline. The HET is distinguished by uniquely low construction and operating costs which affected commissioning. In this contribution, we describe those aspects of our commissioning experience that may impact how similar telescopes are designed, especially those with larger aperture, and review the challenges and lessons learned from commissioning a 9-meter class telescope with a small technical team.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	14-25
Number of pages	12
Journal	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	4004
State	Published - 2000
Event	Telescope Structures, Enclosures, Controls, Assembly/Integration/Validation, and Commissioning - Munich, Ger Duration: Mar 27 2000 → Mar 31 2000

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Condensed Matter Physics
Computer Science Applications
Applied Mathematics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Cite this

@article{90cf23348159403299ccae05cc0d8779,

title = "Commissioning experience with the 9.2-m Hobby-Eberly Telescope",

abstract = "The HET is unique among 9-meter class telescopes in featuring an Arecibo-like design with a focal surface tracker. The focal surface tracker causes image quality and pointing/tracking performance to interact in a complex way that has no precedent in astronomical telescope system design and that has presented unusual demands upon commissioning. The fixed-elevation, segmented primary-mirror array offers some simplifications over traditional telescope design in principle, but has presented challenges in practice. The sky access characteristics of the HET also place unique demands on observational planning and discipline. The HET is distinguished by uniquely low construction and operating costs which affected commissioning. In this contribution, we describe those aspects of our commissioning experience that may impact how similar telescopes are designed, especially those with larger aperture, and review the challenges and lessons learned from commissioning a 9-meter class telescope with a small technical team.",

author = "Barnes, {Thomas G.} and Adams, {Mark T.} and Booth, {John A.} and Cornell, {Mark E.} and Niall Gaffney and Fowler, {James R.} and Hill, {Gary J.} and Hill, {Grant M.} and Craig Nance and Francois Piche and Ramsey, {Lawrence W.} and Ricklefs, {Randall L.} and Spiesman, {William J.} and Worthington, {P. Thomas}",

year = "2000",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "4004",

pages = "14--25",

journal = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

issn = "0277-786X",

publisher = "SPIE",

note = "Telescope Structures, Enclosures, Controls, Assembly/Integration/Validation, and Commissioning ; Conference date: 27-03-2000 Through 31-03-2000",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Commissioning experience with the 9.2-m Hobby-Eberly Telescope

AU - Barnes, Thomas G.

AU - Adams, Mark T.

AU - Booth, John A.

AU - Cornell, Mark E.

AU - Gaffney, Niall

AU - Fowler, James R.

AU - Hill, Gary J.

AU - Hill, Grant M.

AU - Nance, Craig

AU - Piche, Francois

AU - Ramsey, Lawrence W.

AU - Ricklefs, Randall L.

AU - Spiesman, William J.

AU - Worthington, P. Thomas

PY - 2000

Y1 - 2000

N2 - The HET is unique among 9-meter class telescopes in featuring an Arecibo-like design with a focal surface tracker. The focal surface tracker causes image quality and pointing/tracking performance to interact in a complex way that has no precedent in astronomical telescope system design and that has presented unusual demands upon commissioning. The fixed-elevation, segmented primary-mirror array offers some simplifications over traditional telescope design in principle, but has presented challenges in practice. The sky access characteristics of the HET also place unique demands on observational planning and discipline. The HET is distinguished by uniquely low construction and operating costs which affected commissioning. In this contribution, we describe those aspects of our commissioning experience that may impact how similar telescopes are designed, especially those with larger aperture, and review the challenges and lessons learned from commissioning a 9-meter class telescope with a small technical team.

AB - The HET is unique among 9-meter class telescopes in featuring an Arecibo-like design with a focal surface tracker. The focal surface tracker causes image quality and pointing/tracking performance to interact in a complex way that has no precedent in astronomical telescope system design and that has presented unusual demands upon commissioning. The fixed-elevation, segmented primary-mirror array offers some simplifications over traditional telescope design in principle, but has presented challenges in practice. The sky access characteristics of the HET also place unique demands on observational planning and discipline. The HET is distinguished by uniquely low construction and operating costs which affected commissioning. In this contribution, we describe those aspects of our commissioning experience that may impact how similar telescopes are designed, especially those with larger aperture, and review the challenges and lessons learned from commissioning a 9-meter class telescope with a small technical team.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033683960&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0033683960&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Conference article

AN - SCOPUS:0033683960

SN - 0277-786X

VL - 4004

SP - 14

EP - 25

JO - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

JF - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

T2 - Telescope Structures, Enclosures, Controls, Assembly/Integration/Validation, and Commissioning

Y2 - 27 March 2000 through 31 March 2000

ER -

Commissioning experience with the 9.2-m Hobby-Eberly Telescope

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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