These earthly godfathers of Heaven's lights, that give a name to every fixed star, have no more profit of their shining nights than those that walk and know not what they are.

— William Shakespeare

New telescope LAMOST comes online in China

The LAMOST Schmidt Telescope

The Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) is a quasi-meridian reflecting Schmidt telescope laid down on the ground with its optical axis fixed in the meridian plane. IT has a 4m aperture. With a 1.75 m focal plane it has a 5 degree field of view, and a 1/0.25 nm spectral resolution! 4000 optical fibers collect the spectra of 4000 objects. It has  the highest spectrum acquiring rate in the world. It is located at the Xinglong Observing Station outside Bejing.
The dome, which one would assume is where the telescope is at, is the primary reflecting multi-mirror platform. Open to the sky it reflects the image up the slope to the first parabolic multi-mirror assembly which in turn sends it back down the sloping structure to the light collecting fibers. From there its all in the huge optical bench array below in the tower.
This telescope will concentrate on extragalactic observation, structure and evolution of the Galaxy. It is expected to make substantial contributions and discoveries into extra-galactic astrophysics and cosmology, collecting spectral surveys of galaxies, quasars and other large scale structures of te universe. Combined with other spectral surves (x-ray, radio, infrared etc) it will make a significant contribution to the cross-identification of multi-waveband research.
 
Visit the site - LAMOST
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

WOW

WOW? THAT'S LOTS OF TECHNICAL SOUNDING DETAILS IN ONE PARGRAPH. DID YOU MEMORIZE ALL THOSE DETAILS OR DID YOU COPY THE DETAILS FROM SOMEWHERE? JUST WONDERING. SOUNDS IMPRESSSIVE. I'M VISUALIZING WHAT THE TELESCOPE AND EQUIPMENT LOOKS LIKE. I see that there is a link at the end of this blog. I'm going to check it out. Thanks.