Commissioning experience with the 9.2-m Hobby-Eberly Telescope

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

doi:10.1117/12.393924

2 August 2000 Commissioning experience with the 9.2-m Hobby-Eberly Telescope

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

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4004, Telescope Structures, Enclosures, Controls, Assembly/Integration/Validation, and Commissioning; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.393924
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2000, Munich, Germany

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.

Citation Download Citation

Thomas G. Barnes III, Mark T. Adams, John A. Booth, Mark E. Cornell, Niall I. Gaffney, James R. Fowler, Gary J. Hill, Grant M. Hill, Craig E. Nance, Francois Piche, Lawrence W. Ramsey, Randall L. Ricklefs, William J. Spiesman, and P. Thomas Worthington "Commissioning experience with the 9.2-m Hobby-Eberly Telescope", Proc. SPIE 4004, Telescope Structures, Enclosures, Controls, Assembly/Integration/Validation, and Commissioning, (2 August 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.393924

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