Experts from the Thirty Meter Telescope Project (TMT) are available to discuss the latest frontier engineering innovations that will enable scientists to study the Universe with unprecedented clarity, helping to answer many of the most complex and compelling questions in astronomy and physics.
The latest frontier technologies include:
Adaptive Optics (AO): Adaptive Optics systems correct for the blurring of Earth's atmosphere, enabling ground-based observatories to view deep-space objects with unprecedented clarity. Brent Ellerbroek, PhD, TMT's Adaptive Optics Group Leader is available to discuss the latest developments in this cornerstone technology for TMT.
Observatory Dome: The traditional dome of an observatory fulfills an important role by protecting the telescope from weather, wind, and other environmental hazards. With the immense size of TMT, a new enclosure design was needed to enable a clear view of the skies, yet still provide the best possible protection for the giant 30-meter primary mirror and other critical components. Paul Gillett, PhD, TMT's Site Selection Project Manager is available to discuss TMT's calotte, an innovative new type of telescope enclosure.
Segment Mirror Control: Many current and next-generation observatories are so large that their primary mirrors are actually multiple mirrors that function as one. TMT will build on the success of the 10-meter Keck telescope (which has 36 segments), but take that an order-of-magnitude higher with 492 mirror segments. Mechanical engineer Eric Williams, TMT's Telescope Optics Group Leader, is available to discuss TMT's new, prototype Segment Support Assembly, which will enable all 492 mirror segments to function as one mirror.
When TMT achieves "first light" in 2018, it will be the most technically advanced and capable telescope in history. TMT is a partnership among Caltech, the University of California, and ACURA, an organization of Canadian Universities.
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