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40"
Dream Telescope & Facility |
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Dream developed a 40" Prime Focus Telescope and
facility for The
Madawaska Highlands Observatory (MHO). |
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Dream completed the initial design of the Prime Focus
Corrector (PFC), then did a detailed analysis phase after creating
the initial design. |
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This 40" f2.4 corrected prime focus system will
hold a very unique place in the world. |
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It will use the world's
largest single chip CCD camera: 95mm x 95mm. The back-thinned
chip boasts a QE greater than 90% and with 16 read ports can
download the 111.7Mp image within 2s. No, this isn't a typo. |
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Cooling to -100C creates only 2 electrons of noise
per 60 minutes of exposure time, therefore iliminating the need
and loss of throughput associated with dark frames. |
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You can learn much more about this powerful telescope
on their
dedicated web site. |
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Be sure to view the CAD
animation . |
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As with all Dream products, carbon fiber skinned sandwich core is used extensively.
This gives not only the telescope sub components and structure
great thermal stability, stiffness
and low mass, but also the enclosure as well. This will give
the facility unrivaled stability through seasons and over time
because of the material's inherent ability to hold tolerances. |
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These advanced materials will resist corrosion and
will experience almost no fatigue from thermal cycling. All of
these advanced
composite structures will require less power to operate as
well, due to their far lower masses, which is one of many driving
factors for this project. |
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The carbon fiber telescope uses a cellular
primary mirror that will be cast in-house. |
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The primary mirror will weigh less than 150 lbs.,
but will be greater than 5.5" thick. |
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 1m telescope, 40" telescope,
40" primary mirror, 40" mirror, 1m mirror |
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The rendering to the left shows the Calotte viewport
closed and in the observatory's park position (day time). |
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The enclosure has a host of unique features that minimize
its thermal footprint. |
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m mirror |
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Click below to see views of
the telescope. |
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The entire observatory will
initially be installed and tested at Dream. Extensive and additive
testing of all components will be carried out, prior to Dream
transporting all components to MHO's very
dark final location (6 hours north
of Dream). By testing each installed component and eventually
first light image testing here at Dream, installation time at
MHO's site can be greatly deminished. |
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