Project News

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TMT Laser Guide Star Facility Passes Design Milestone

TMT • Engineering & Technology • June 3rd, 2021

The TMT Laser Guide Star Facility (LGSF) has successfully completed the first phase of its Preliminary Design Review (PDR1). The LGSF will be responsible for generating artificial laser guide stars that will be used with TMT’s Adaptive Optics (AO) systems, including NFIRAOS, the Observatory’s...

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Cooling TMT's Adaptive Optics System

TMT • News Release • June 2nd, 2021

In a previous set of blog entries, we discussed the principle of adaptive optics, which TMT will use to remove the effects of turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere. TMT's first light adaptive optics includes the Narrow Field Infra-Red Adaptive Optics System (NFIRAOS), which is being designed and...

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TMT Metrology Equipment Arrives in California

TMT • Engineering & Technology • June 1st, 2021

The optical metrology and test set for TMT’s primary mirror segments has arrived at its warehouse in California. It was sent by Arizona Optical Systems (AOS) in Tucson, Arizona, on May 11 and arrived safely the day after at the TMT storage facility after a 500-mile journey. All fabrication and...

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TMT Mirror Segment Handling Equipment Passes Preliminary Design Review

TMT • Engineering & Technology • May 27th, 2021

The handling equipment for TMT primary mirror (M1) segment recently passed its Preliminary Design Review. The custom-designed equipment and tooling will be used to safely handle mirrors within the observatory during operational activities.

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Meet the TMT Team - Professor A.N. Ramaprakash (Ram)

TMT • News Release • May 26th, 2021

Meet the TMT Team - Professor A.N. Ramaprakash (Ram)

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Remembering Hugh Thompson

TMT • TMT Partner News • May 21st, 2021

TMT is deeply saddened by the passing of TMT Systems Engineer Hugh Thompson on May 7, 2021. Hugh was a colleague, good friend and inspiration to many of us who were fortunate to interact with him over his career.

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TMT’s Telescope Structure progresses to Production Readiness

TMT • Engineering & Technology • May 13th, 2021

A virtual meeting was conducted on April 5, 2021 between representatives of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ, TMT Japanese Partner Institution) and the TMT Project Office (TMTPO) Telescope Structure Subsystem (STR), Systems Engineering (SE) and Project Management (PM) teams....

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Progress made on TMT mirror production

TMT • Engineering & Technology • April 29th, 2021

TIO recently celebrated the completion of another eight newly polished roundels produced for the TMT primary mirror by Canon in Japan. The TIO and NAOJ teams responsible for the mirror polishing held a face-to-face meeting virtually on April 27, 2021 to confirm that the polishing results met the...

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Update from TMT Science Advisory Committee

TMT • Science & Astronomy • April 23rd, 2021

TMT’s Science Advisory Committee (SAC), which has been meeting bi-monthly since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, recently met to address the project status, its scientific potential and suitable instrumentation. The SAC is composed of representatives from each TMT partner who advise the...

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First M1 Roundels Produced by Coherent for TMT Successfully Shipped to Storage Facility in California

TMT • Engineering & Technology • April 19th, 2021

TMT and Coherent reached a new milestone this month with the completion of the first two roundels for TMT’s Primary Mirror (M1). Coherent precisely contoured and polished the optical surfaces of the roundels under the direction of TIO. They are the first of 231 roundels Coherent will provide for...

TMT Laser Guide Star Facility Passes Design Milestone

TMT • June 3rd, 2021

The TMT Laser Guide Star Facility (LGSF) has successfully completed the first phase of its Preliminary Design Review (PDR1). The LGSF will be responsible for generating...

Cooling TMT's Adaptive Optics System

TMT • June 2nd, 2021

In a previous set of blog entries, we discussed the principle of adaptive optics, which TMT will use to remove the effects of turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere. TMT's first...

TMT Metrology Equipment Arrives in California

TMT • June 1st, 2021

The optical metrology and test set for TMT’s primary mirror segments has arrived at its warehouse in California. It was sent by Arizona Optical Systems (AOS) in Tucson,...

TMT Mirror Segment Handling Equipment Passes Preliminary Design Review

TMT • May 27th, 2021

The handling equipment for TMT primary mirror (M1) segment recently passed its Preliminary Design Review. The custom-designed equipment and tooling will be used to safely handle...

Meet the TMT Team - Professor A.N. Ramaprakash (Ram)

TMT • May 26th, 2021

Meet the TMT Team - Professor A.N. Ramaprakash (Ram)

Remembering Hugh Thompson

TMT • May 21st, 2021

TMT is deeply saddened by the passing of TMT Systems Engineer Hugh Thompson on May 7, 2021. Hugh was a colleague, good friend and inspiration to many of us who were fortunate to...

TMT’s Telescope Structure progresses to Production Readiness

TMT • May 13th, 2021

A virtual meeting was conducted on April 5, 2021 between representatives of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ, TMT Japanese Partner Institution) and the TMT...

Progress made on TMT mirror production

TMT • April 29th, 2021

TIO recently celebrated the completion of another eight newly polished roundels produced for the TMT primary mirror by Canon in Japan. The TIO and NAOJ teams responsible for the...

Update from TMT Science Advisory Committee

TMT • April 23rd, 2021

TMT’s Science Advisory Committee (SAC), which has been meeting bi-monthly since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, recently met to address the project status, its scientific...

First M1 Roundels Produced by Coherent for TMT Successfully Shipped to Storage Facility in California

TMT • April 19th, 2021

TMT and Coherent reached a new milestone this month with the completion of the first two roundels for TMT’s Primary Mirror (M1). Coherent precisely contoured and polished the...