Thermal conditioning of the AEOS Telescope

Lewis C. Roberts Jr.; Peter D. Figgis

doi:10.1117/12.457004

4 February 2003 Thermal conditioning of the AEOS Telescope

Lewis C. Roberts Jr., Peter D. Figgis

Proceedings Volume 4837, Large Ground-based Telescopes; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.457004
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2002, Waikoloa, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

The AEOS telescope facility was designed for high angular resolution imagery. Part of that design is the inclusion of several air handling systems to maximize dome seeing. Four air conditioning units chill the telescope and dome air to the predicted nighttime temperature. There is a mirror purge system, which prevents moisture from condensing on the mirror by blowing desiccated air into the mirror cell. A laminar air system counteracts the seeing degradation effects of a warm mirror by blowing air across the face of the primary. An hour before sunset the dome is partially opened and outside air is pulled through the telescope truss structure in an effort to remove any thermal differences caused by incorrect cooling. Finally a fan pulls air through the coude' tube in order to remove rising air cells. We present details of each system and the beginnings of our experiments to determine their efficacy. Finally, lessons learned from the systems on the AEOS telescope are presented.

Citation Download Citation

Lewis C. Roberts Jr. and Peter D. Figgis "Thermal conditioning of the AEOS Telescope", Proc. SPIE 4837, Large Ground-based Telescopes, (4 February 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.457004

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