The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) is a project to build and operate a 6.5m telescope at the summit of Co. Chajnantor (5640 m.a.s.l). This is promoted by the Institute of Astronomy, School of Science, the University of Tokyo in collaboration with many institutes and universities in Japan and Chile. The site construction started in 2018 and was successfully completed by April 2024. An operation support building and an enclosure have already been constructed and are operational at the summit. Electricity is supplied by two generators installed in the operations building. The telescope mount and mirrors have already completed their tests in Japan and the U.S., respectively. They were transported to Chile and wait for the assembly. The first light instruments, NICE and MIMIZUKU, are undergoing final adjustment in Japan and will be transported to Chile as the telescope assembly progresses. The near-infrared instrument SWIMS has completed its open use on the Subaru telescope and returned back to Japan in Aug. 2023 for upgrading for TAO. The near-infrared spectrograph TARdYS, which is being developed in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, is also making progress in the development of its optics and detectors. In addition to these, the development of a new optical instrument has been started this year. Allocation of the observing time was also determined. TAO will use approximately 45% of its scientific observation time as project time, 35% as Japan open time for the Japanese community, and 10% as Chilean time for the Chilean community. 5-15% will be provided as paid observing time.
The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) is a project to build and operate an infrared-optimized 6.5m telescope at the summit of Cerro Chajnantor (5640 m.a.s.l). This is promoted by Institute of Astronomy, Graduate School of Science, the University of Tokyo in collaboration with many universities and institutes. The project is now approaching the final phase of the construction. Production of major components are almost completed. The primary mirror fabricated by Steward Observatory Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab in the University of Arizona was temporarily assembled in its support system and confirmed its performance by the optical test in the laboratory. The telescope mount, the enclosure system, and the mirror coating system were fabricated in Japan and already shipped to Chile. They are now stored in an open yard located in the foot area of Cerro Chajanator. The expansion of the summit access road, the summit leveling, the foundation work was completed. Now the construction work of the summit facilities is on-going. TAO will equip three instruments in early science phase. A near-infrared instrument SWIMS is completed, and now used as a PI-type instrument of Subaru telescope. A near-infrared spectrograph NICE which was used on the 1.6m Pirka telescope in Japan is being refurbished for TAO. A mid-infrared instrument MIMIZUKU successfully saw the first light on Subaru telescope and is being prepared for TAO in Japan. We expect to start science operation in FY2023.
Institute of Astronomy, Graduate School of Science, the University of Tokyo is promoting the University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory Project, which is to construct an infrared-optimized 6.5m telescope at the summit of Co. Chajnantor (5640m altitude) in northern Chile. The high altitude and dry climate (PWV-0.5mm) realize transparent atmosphere in the infrared wavelength. The project is now approaching the final phase of the construction. Production of major components are almost completed: Production and preassembly test of a telescope mount and dome enclosure have been completed in Japan, and they are being transported to Chile. Three mirrors, the 6.5m primary, 0.9m secondary, and 1.1m-0.75m tertiary mirrors and their support systems have been all completed and tested in the USA. An aluminizing chamber have been fabricated in China, and its tests have been carried out in Japan. Development of two facility instruments, SWIMS and MIMIZUKU, are also completed. They were transported to the Subaru telescope, successfully saw the first light in 2018, and are confirmed to have the performance as designed. On-site construction work at the summit is now underway. Expansion of a summit access road from the ALMA concession was completed in 2019. Installation of foundation will follow, and then erection of the dome enclosure and a control building. The construction works are delayed by COVID-19, and we expect to complete the dome enclosure by Q3 of 2021. The telescope will be installed inside the dome and see the engineering first light by early 2022.
The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory Project is to construct and operate a 6.5m infrared telescope at the summit of Co. Chajnantor (5640m altitude) in northern Chile, promoted by the Institute of Astronomy of the University of Tokyo. Thanks to the dry climate (PWV~0.5mm) and the high altitude, excellent observation condition in the NIR to MIR wavelengths is achieved. The telescope has two Nasmyth foci where two facility instruments, SWIMS for the near-infrared and MIMIZUKU for the mid-infrared, are installed and two folded- Cassegrain foci for carry-in instruments. All these four foci can be switched by rotating a tertiary mirror. The final focal ratio is 12.2 and the foci have large field-of-view of 25 arcmin in diameter.
We adopted a 6.5-m F/1.25 light-weighted borosilicate honeycomb primary mirror and its support system that are developed by Steward Observatory Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab. An enclosure has the shape of carousel, and large ventilation windows with shutters control the wind to flush heat inside the enclosure. A support building with a control room, a mirror coating system and maintenance facilities is located at the side of the enclosure. The mirror coating system consists of a large aluminizing chamber and a mirror washing facility. The operation of the telescope will be remotely carried out from a base facility at San Pedro de Atacama, 50km away from the summit. Development of the two facility instruments has already been completed and they are transported to Hilo, Hawaii in 2017. We are going to carry out engineering observations of those instruments on the Subaru telescope for clearing up technical issues and verifying their performance. The existing summit access road from the ALMA concession area was laid in 2006, however, it is too narrow to carry large components of the telescope and the ancillary facilities such as the primary mirror, its cell, and the aluminizing chamber. The road is being expanded so that it has the width of <5m for straight portion and <7m for curved portion.. The telescope mount and the enclosure are being pre-assembled for functional and performance tests in Japan. All telescope system will be assembled at the summit and see the engineering first light early 2019.
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