Expanding our universe with the Discovery Channel Telescope at Lowell Observatory

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Expanding our Universe

with the

Discovery Channel Telescope

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Lowell Observatory

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Lowell Observatory

Percival Lowell

• Founded in 1894 “for the study of our solar system and to conduct pure research in the field of astronomical phenomena.”

ADVANCED SCIENCE !

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Lowell…. a tradition of discovery

1900sFirst comprehensive studies of Planet Mars; theorized Martian canals and intelligent life.

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Lowell…. a tradition of discovery

1917Vesto Melvin Slipher – first to measure enormous radial velocities of spiral galaxies and “red shift” effect. First evidence that universe is expanding.

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Lowell…. a history of discovery1930 Clyde Tombaugh discovers Pluto.

1940s Lowell pioneers field of infrared astronomy.

1950s –1960s

Lowell creates detailed lunar maps to support Apollo lunar landings.

1977 Lowell astronomers co-discover Uranus rings.

1986Lowell astronomer discovers true rotational period of Halley’s Comet.

1990sLowell first to identify existence of two composition classes of comets.

1990sLowell partners with US Naval Observatory to construct and operate NPOI – produces the highest resolution images in the world.

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Lowell…. a center of discovery

1998 - 2005

Deep Ecliptic Survey – Lowell discovered 1/3 of 1,500 known Kuiper Belt Objects.

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Lowell…. a center of discovery

1998 - 2008

Lowell Observatory Near Earth Object Search (LONEOS) – Lowell astronomers discovered 289 NEAs and 42 comets using a 17 million pixel camera designed and built at the observatory.

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2001 - 2015

New Horizons Mission – first spacecraft to study Pluto and Kuiper Belt Objects.

Lowell…. on the forefront of discovery

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2007Lowell astronomers discover largest known extrasolar planet , “TrES-04,” nearly 1,400 light years from Earth.

Lowell…. on the forefront of discovery

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2008First direct images taken of extrasolar planets (130 light years away).

Lowell…. on the forefront of discovery

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2009Lowell astronomer discovers clouds over tropic region of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan.

Lowell…. on the forefront of discovery

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Lowell…. on the forefront of discovery

2009 – ongoing

Kepler Mission – quest to discover terrestrial “Earth-like” planets in our galaxy. Lowell astronomer is co-investigator and science team leader. 7 exoplanets discovered to date.

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A New Generation Telescope is Needed

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Discovery Channel Telescope

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Site Location

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A Very Dark Site…

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Happy Jack, Night View

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DCT Quick Facts

At first light (2011), DCT will operate in a Ritchey-Chrétien configuration utilizing a light-weight secondary mirror at the telescope’s top end.

* Primary Mirror – 4.3 meters, weighs 6,700 lbs, 4 inches thick

* Secondary Mirror – 1.4 meters, weighs 500 lbs, 5.5 inches thick

* Rotating Dome – octagonal, reflective aluminum panels, naturally ventilated

* Mount – altitude / azimuth design, weighs 270,000 lbs.

* Instrument Cube – GWAVES, NIHTS, LMI, and DeVeny Spectrograph

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DCT Instrumentation

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Large Monolithic Imager

“LMI”

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DCT’s Wide Imaging Capability

You would need 10 separate Kitt Peak telescope images to photograph Andromeda Galaxy OR ………..

Just 1 DCT image!

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Science and

Research

with the DCT

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Science with the DCT

Kuiper Belt Spectral Survey

Survey and detailed study of KBOs using NIHTS and LMI

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COMETS

Source of comets, how they are formed, insight into origins of our galaxy thanks to DCT’s deep imaging capability rendered by LMI and NIHTS.

Science with the DCT

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Science with the DCT

GALAXIES

Formation, evolution, and structure of small galaxies using DeVeny Spectrograph, NIHTS, and LMI.

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Science with the DCT

MASSIVE STARS

Investigate competing models to accurately measure mass and luminosity of very large stars. Lowell astronomy team will use DCT’s LMI, NIHTS, and DeVeny Spectrograph

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Science with the DCT

EXTRA-SOLAR PLANETS

Detection and detailed study of planets beyond our solar system using DeVeny Spectrograph, NIHTS, and LMI.

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Construction of the

Discovery Channel Telescope

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DCT Groundbreaking - July 2005

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Facility

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Dome

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Dome

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4.3-meter Primary Mirror

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4.3-meter Primary Mirror

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Primary Mirror Active Support

M1

ColdplateLateral Supports

Axial Supports

TangentialDefiner(3 places)

RadialBumper

Axial PositionSensor

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1.4-meter Secondary Mirror

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Optical Coating System

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Mount Installation

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Mount Installation

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Mount Installation

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