A new Nasmyth mirror mechanism increases the number of focal stations of the Mercator Telescope

Gert Raskin; Rene Dubosson; Bernard Michaud; Wim Pessemier; Hans Van Winckel

doi:10.1117/12.926936

24 September 2012 A new Nasmyth mirror mechanism increases the number of focal stations of the Mercator Telescope

Gert Raskin, Rene Dubosson, Bernard Michaud, Wim Pessemier, Hans Van Winckel

Proceedings Volume 8446, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV; 844646 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926936
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

Originally, the Mercator telescope (Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory, La Palma) only had one Cassegrain and one Nasmyth focal station available. Both foci are currently occupied and the exploitation scheme of the Mercator telescope does not allow regular instrument changes. To accommodate our new three-channel imager MAIA and to allow exible scheduling with rapid follow-up of transient phenomena, we have designed and built a new mechanism for the Nasmyth mirror that enables the use of the second Nasmyth focal station and of two compact intermediate foci at the front and the rear side of the telescope tube. This mechanism uses high-precision gears, bearings and optical encoders to allow for exible and very accurate positioning of the Nasmyth mirror along the rotation and tilt axes. It is controlled by a programmable logic controller (PLC) that is the precursor of a completely new PLC and OPC-UA based telescope control system. We present the design, the construction and the performance of this new Nasmyth mirror mechanism.

Citation Download Citation

Gert Raskin, Rene Dubosson, Bernard Michaud, Wim Pessemier, and Hans Van Winckel "A new Nasmyth mirror mechanism increases the number of focal stations of the Mercator Telescope", Proc. SPIE 8446, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV, 844646 (24 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926936

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