University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory

University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO)

Looking east towards Cerro Chajnantor, site of TAO
Organization University of Tokyo
Location Cerro Chajnantor, Atacama Desert, Chile
Coordinates 22°59′12″S 67°44′32″W / 22.98667°S 67.74222°W / -22.98667; -67.74222Coordinates: 22°59′12″S 67°44′32″W / 22.98667°S 67.74222°W / -22.98667; -67.74222
Altitude 5,640 m (18,500 ft)
Established 2009
Website http://www.ioa.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/TAO/
(English translation)
Telescopes
miniTAO 1m optical-infrared
(planned) 6.5m optical-infrared

The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) is an astronomical observatory located on the summit of Cerro Chajnantor, at an altitude of 5,640 m (18,500 ft) within a lava dome in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.[1] The site is located less than 5 km (3.1 mi) north-northeast of the Llano de Chajnantor Observatory, where the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) is located, but is over 580 m (1,900 ft) higher in elevation.

The eventual goal of the project is to install a 6.5 m (260 in) optical-infrared telescope at the site.[2] A first step towards that goal has been the construction and installation of a 1.0 m (39 in) pilot telescope, called miniTAO, completed in 2009. With first light achieved in March 2009 in the visible region, and infrared imaging underway as of June 2009, the observatory has become the highest permanent astronomical observatory in the world.

Description

The telescope’s primary mirror will have a diameter of 6.5 m (260 in) and will be silver-coated. The secondary mirror will be equipped with adaptive optics to compensate for atmospheric turbulence. A third mirror will allow switching between several instruments. There will be a Cassegrain focus for the mid-infrared range, a Nasmyth focus for the near-infrared range and another Nasmyth focus for far-infrared.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Yoshii, Yuzuru; et al. (Aug 11, 2009). "The 1m telescope at the Atacama Observatory has Started Scientific Operation, detecting the hydrogen emission line from the Galactic Center in the Infrared Light". Press Release. School of Science, the University of Tokyo. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  2. ↑ "TAO Project" (PDF). Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica - CONICYT. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
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