Thermal Conditioning of the AEOS Telescope
Abstract
The AEOS telescope facility was designed for high angular resolution imagery. Part of that design is the inclusion of several air handling systems to maximize dome seeing. Four air conditioning units chill the telescope and dome air to the predicted nighttime temperature. There is a mirror purge system, which prevents moisture from condensing on the mirror by blowing desiccated air into the mirror cell. A laminar air system counteracts the seeing degradation effects of a warm mirror by blowing air across the face of the primary. An hour before sunset the dome is partially opened and outside air is pulled through the telescope truss structure in an effort to remove any thermal differences caused by incorrect cooling. Finally a fan pulls air through the coude tube in order to remove rising air cells. We present details of each system and the beginnings of our experiments to determine their efficacy. Finally, lessons learned from the systems on the AEOS telescope are presented.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA423369
Entities
People
- Lewis C. Roberts Jr.
- Peter D. Figgis
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory