Keck: The Largest Optical Telescope
Explanation:
In buildings eight stories tall rest mirrors ten meters across that are
slowly allowing humanity to map the universe. Alone, each is the
world's
largest optical telescope:
Keck.
Together, the twin Keck telescopes have the
resolving power of a single telescope 90-meter in diameter, able to discern
sources just
milliarcseconds
apart. Since
opening in 1992, the real power of Keck I (left) has been in its
enormous
light-gathering ability - allowing
astronomers to
study faint and
distant objects in
our Galaxy and
the universe.
Keck II,
completed earlier this year, and its twin are located on the dormant volcano
Mauna
Kea,
Hawaii,
USA. In the distance is
Maui's volcano Haleakala. One reason Keck was built was because of the
difficultly for astronomers to get funding for a smaller telescope.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
