Scientist visits UF to inspect instrument for world’s largest telescope

August 9, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A $3.2 million contract draws to a close this week as a noted Spanish astronomer visits the University of Florida.

Jose M. Rodriguez-Espinosa is on campus for the acceptance testing of the Canaricam, the infrared camera UF has been building to be added to the Gran Telescopio Canarias, or GTC, the largest telescope in the world. It’s been under construction in Spain’s Canary Islands for the past seven years. The UF team of engineers and scientists is led by astronomy professors Charles Telesco and Chris Packham.

Stanley Dermott, chairman of UF’s department of astronomy, said that this is the largest international project in the history of the university.

As a part of the contract, UF has a 5 percent share in the project, which will allow UF faculty and graduate students approximately 20 nights of viewing time with the GTC annually. Though UF is the only U.S. academic institution to have collaborated on this project, two Mexican universities also are involved.

“We saw this as an opportunity to get into the big league of telescope programs,” he said. “We haven’t just provided money, but expertise in the form of this instrument.”

The telescope, which is being built on the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa, will be 10.4 meters in diameter, which will magnify from five to 10 times better than other telescopes, Dermott said.

Rodriguez-Espinosa, the project scientist and associate director of science for the GTC, was very complimentary of the UF astronomy department.

“They have all been very helpful,” Rodriguez-Espinosa said. “I admire Stanley’s vision.”

“We have a really good relationship and good brains,” he added, laughing.

Rodriguez-Espinosa will inspect the instrument this week to make sure it fulfills the requirements of the contract.

“This is very exciting; we have just had the first light, which was very successful,” Dermott said. “We had certain expectations of the quality of the telescope. However, the first light results clearly exceeded those initial expectations. Now we have to make sure the instruments are good enough to justify the quality.”

Once the acceptance testing is finished, Rodriguez-Espinosa will give a review of the status of the telescope at 4 p.m. Friday in Room 260 of the Florida Gym. The event is free and open to the public.

The GTC should be ready for scientific use by next summer, according to Rodriguez-Espinosa. King Juan Carlos I of Spain, Gov. Charlie Crist and President Felipe Calderon of Mexico have been invited to its inauguration.