Improvement of the thermal environment around the Subaru Telescope enclosure

Akihiko Miyashita; Yoshitaka Mikami; Tetsuo Nishimura; Naruhisa Takato

doi:10.1117/12.670744

11 July 2006 Improvement of the thermal environment around the Subaru Telescope enclosure

Akihiko Miyashita, Yoshitaka Mikami, Tetsuo Nishimura, Naruhisa Takato

Proceedings Volume 6267, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes; 62670K (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.670744
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2006, Orlando, Florida , United States

Abstract

As the construction of the Subaru Telescope neared the end and the preparation of the first aluminum coating of the primary mirror on the ground floor of the telescope enclosure was in progress in 1997, dust particles blown into the enclosure became a serious issue. The source of the dust particles was mainly volcano cinder rocks in the immediate vicinity of the dome that were crushed through the construction activities, especially by heavy vehicle traffic around the dome. The mitigation measure proposed was to pave the immediate surrounding of the dome. The Subaru dome has a unique design with the special consideration to the airflow through the structure with a few ventilators for the best seeing condition possible. The heat retained by the pavement that may possibly cause thermals was an immediate concern. We examined several types of pavement materials to solve this problem and decided the most suitable materials and method. As a result, we paved the area using asphalt, and were able to improve seeing performance before midnight observation by painting the surface of pavement area white in 2003.

Citation Download Citation

Akihiko Miyashita, Yoshitaka Mikami, Tetsuo Nishimura, and Naruhisa Takato "Improvement of the thermal environment around the Subaru Telescope enclosure", Proc. SPIE 6267, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes, 62670K (11 July 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.670744

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