Overview of the Analysis and Testing of a Covering System for a Telescope
摘要
The Giant Magellan Telescope will be one of the most powerful telescope on the earth and has been built on the Atacama desert (Chile). It allows to take images of the universe with unmatched quality. Due to the environmental conditions, the seven huge mirrors composing the telescope must be protected by special covers. These covers shall shield the mirrors, when the telescope is not in use, and be automatically removed when necessary. Hence, the covering system needs of a opening mechanism, which allows to fold it in a condition in which covers do not occlude the way of the light. An overview of the analysis performed during the cover design and of the experimental campaign is reported.