University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory

Description

The telescope's primary mirror has a diameter of 6.5 m and is silver-coated. The secondary mirror is equipped with adaptive optics to compensate for atmospheric turbulence. A third mirror allows switching between several instruments. There is a Cassegrain focus for the mid-infrared range, a Nasmyth focus for the near-infrared range and another Nasmyth focus for far-infrared.

The telescope has two primary instruments, the MIMIZUKU mid-infrared imager and spectrograph, and the SWIMS near-infrared spectrograph. Both instruments were tested at the Subaru Telescope and achieved first light in the summer of 2018. After testing, the instruments were installed into the TAO telescope in 2023. MIMIZUKU has similar spatial resolution to the James Webb Space Telescope's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) and wider frequency range, although it is less sensitive.

Construction

The project started with site studies in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Road construction to the summit of Cerro Chajnantor started in November 2005. The road was opened April 2006.

The next step was the construction and installation of the 1.0 m miniTAO pilot telescope. miniTAO was completed in 2009 and achieved first light in March 2009 in the visible region, and in June 2009 for the infrared region. TAO then become the highest permanent astronomical observatory in the world.

MiniTAO allowed the project to determine the viewing radius of the full-size telescope. The construction of the TAO telescope started in 2013.

Ground-breaking ceremonies at the site for the main instrument building were held in late 2017. In January 2018, the TAO telescope mount was completed and assembled in Japan. This was done for testing purposes; the telescope mount was then disassembled and shipped to Chile on multiple vessels in 2020. The observation and operations building was similarly assembled in Kazo, Saitama in May 2020 for testing purposes, and then disassembled and shipped on eight separate vessels over the course of 2021.

TAO was opened on 30 April 2024. The telescope achieved first light at the beginning of May 2024.Kuthunur, Sharmila. "The highest observatory on Earth sits atop Chile's Andes Mountains — and it's finally open" Space.com, 30 April 2024.

Because of the high risk of altitude sickness for construction workers and astronomers, a base facility was also constructed in San Pedro de Atacama (about 50 km from the summit), for the telescope to be operated remotely.

References

References

1. Banks, Michael. (2024-05-01). "World's highest observatory begins operations in Chile".
2. (16 December 2022). "Light pollution indicators for all the major astronomical observatories". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
3. (27 June 2022). "The Past and Future of Mid-Infrared Studies of AGN". Universe.
4. (13 December 2020). "Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VIII".
5. "Full start for TAO telescope construction!".
6. "Ground-breaking ceremony was held at the summit of Co. Chajnantor".
7. "Unveiling Ceremony and Commemorative Lectures for Completion of Shop Assembly of TAO 6.5m Telescope Mount".
8. "TAO望遠鏡の観測運用棟の仮組試験が完了".
9. Perfetto, Imma. https://cosmosmagazine.com/space/astronomy/the-worlds-highest-observatory-opens-in-chile/ "The world’s highest observatory opens in Chile", May 1, 2024.
10. Yoshii, Yuzuru. (Aug 11, 2009). "The 1m telescope at the Atacama Observatory has Started Scientific Operation, detecting the hydrogen emission line from the Galactic Center in the Infrared Light". School of Science, the University of Tokyo.
11. "TAO Project". Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica - [[CONICYT]].