Refinements of a Mid-Infrared Spatial Interferometer and Data Processing for General Astronomical Observations

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A long-baseline spatial interferometer for the 10 microns wavelength region using two movable 1.65 m telescopes has recently been completed and installed on Mount Wilson. Baselines have been laid out for distances up to 35 m; they can be extended in some directions to about 100 m. Although in the long run an extensive and varied observational program can be carried out, present observations emphasize an intensive study of the structure of dust shells around stars, their change with time, and the sizes and changes in the disks of stars obscured at visable wavelengths. Support is requested for some improvements to the system to facilitate work on stars with weak emission at visible wavelengths, to enhance the precision and facility with which data on visibilities can be taken, and to provide better facilities to analyze the substantial amount of data which is produced.