Magellan Telescope-Near Infrared Survey Project

我们已经开发了一个1.4米的望远镜，并把它放在南非萨瑟兰的南非国家天文台（SAAO）。1999年，我们做了一个高方位角安装，并拜访了SAAO，讨论了SAAO正在制作的望远镜圆顶的规格。与赤道座相比，高方位角座具有结构紧凑、重力对称等优点。然而，我们必须有一个仪器旋转器，并且必须以不同的速度移动高度、方位角和旋转轴。我们选择了精密编码器，并通过调谐良好的反馈回路控制这些轴。2000年，我们完成了控制系统，并将整个望远镜带到了SAAO。我们使用光学CCD进行望远镜分析。根据所得的望远镜参数，该望远镜的指向精度为3角秒，在同类望远镜中名列前茅。2000年11月，近红外三波段相机SIRIUS被安装在望远镜上。我们开始测试观察。我们确认该望远镜符合跟踪和光学规格。我们发现了控制镜面温度以获得良好镜面效果的必要性。我们还改进了望远镜抗风的坚固性。

We have developed a 1.4-m telescope, and put it at South African National Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), Sutherland, South Africa.In 1999, we made an alt-azimuth mounting, and visited SAAO to discuss the specification of the telescope dome, which SAAO were making. The alt-azimuth mount has advantages of compactness and gravitational symmetry compared with the equatorial mount. However, we have to have an instrument rotator, and have to move the altitude, azimuth, and rotator axes at various speed. We have selected precision encoders and control these axes with well-tuned feedback loops.In 2000, we completed the control system, and took the whole telescope to SAAO.We made telescope nalysis using an optical CCD.With the resultant telescope parameters, the pointing accuracy of the telescope is 3 arcsec, which is among the best values of this class telescopes.In November 2000, the near-infrared three-band camera SIRIUS was attached to the telescope. We started test observations. We confirmed that the telescope fulfills the tracking and optical specifications. We have found the necessity of controlling the mirror temperature to have good mirror seeing. We have also improved the robustness of the telescope against wind.