Visit to the LBTO Observatory

(click image to view & discuss)	LBTO building Largest telescope in the world, twin 8.4 meter mirriors (331 inches each, for a combined 12.5 meter scope Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/15/2007 23:21:24
(click image to view & discuss)	dome as I arrived (1/15/07) Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/15/2007 23:23:04
(click image to view & discuss)	twin mirrors Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/15/2007 23:23:38
(click image to view & discuss)	my dream mirror for my new scope Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/15/2007 23:24:19
(click image to view & discuss)	one of the mirrors on scope Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/15/2007 23:24:51
(click image to view & discuss)	On the roof, 17 stories up (Before opening dome!) Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/15/2007 23:25:29
(click image to view & discuss)	scope moving to apex Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/16/2007 03:05:54
(click image to view & discuss)	sitting in the mount itself Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/16/2007 03:06:27
(click image to view & discuss)	climbed up into the beast Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/16/2007 03:06:57
(click image to view & discuss)	sitting inside the telescope Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/16/2007 03:07:30
(click image to view & discuss)	under the main mirror, actuators, cooling vents Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/16/2007 03:08:35
(click image to view & discuss)	just above the mirror plane Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/16/2007 03:09:06
(click image to view & discuss)	prime focus camera, f1.1 Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/16/2007 03:09:44
(click image to view & discuss)	under roof, 1 megawatt heater to melt snow off roof Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/16/2007 03:10:41
(click image to view & discuss)	from roof, looking at much smaller Vatican scope and SMT Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/16/2007 03:11:34
(click image to view & discuss)	inside dome at night, view of sky through slit (sneaked in) Note the dipper through left slit. Took 4-30 second exposures and combined. They were imaging M81 while I took this. Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/16/2007 03:12:31
(click image to view & discuss)	aluminizing bell for the big mirrors Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/16/2007 03:13:20
(click image to view & discuss)	Red Squirrel clearance No one admitted without a squirel pass, a "safe habitat for the red squirrel Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/16/2007 03:15:54
(click image to view & discuss)	My squirrel permit NO ONE allowed on top without a Red Squirrel permit issued, to be sure astronomers do not disturb this "protected" species. This was my permit. Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/16/2007 03:23:53
(click image to view & discuss)	M81, first image tonight Note, this is a screen shot of control computer with my digital camera, original much better Submitted by Mario Motta M.D. on 01/16/2007 03:24:59