Link to mount performance, dome info, zones of avoidance, etc.
Active Optics System / Wavefront Sensing
LDT (formerly DCT) Selected Technical Publications & References (full papers)
Lowell Discovery Telescope
Azimuth-Elevation Mount, rotates freely within the dome
Primary Mirror:
Diameter: 4.3m
Focal ratio: f/1.9
Thickness: 4 inches
Composition: Ultra-low expansion (ULE) glass, thin meniscus
Supported:
laterally by 36 pneumatic actuators
axially by 120 electromechanical actuators
Secondary Mirror:
Diameter: 1.4m
Supported by:
three axial definers
central radial defining hub
tangent defining strap
modest partial vacuum (approximately -0.25 psig)
Ritchey–Chrétien (RC) Focus:
Effective focal ratio: f/6.1
Corrected (flattened) FOV: 30' x 30'
Plate Scale: 8" / mm
Instrument Ports:
The RC Instrument Cube supports the simultaneous mounting of up to 5 different instruments.
Through Port: Sits behind the 2-element field-flattening corrector lens.
2 Large folded (side) ports fed by moveable fold mirrors.
2 Small folded (side) ports fed by moveable fold mirror / dichroic.