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RSAA News of the Month: August 2008

SkyMapper Telescope Arrives at SSO!

SkyMapper Telescope is now moving along quickly with new equipment arriving at SSO. The past week has seen the arrival of the primary mirror, computer equipment and now the telescope itself.

The 1.3m wide field SkyMapper telescope underwent extensive testing on the nighttime sky at Electro Optic System's facility in Tucson, Arizona, before being shipped to Australia. The Telescope and its mirror arrived at Siding Spring Observatory this week, and is currently being re-assembled. We expect that by the end of September, the telescope will be once again ready to look at the sky, so that its final acceptance testing can begin on site.

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UPDATE 2nd September Truss installation

Click images for larger versions.

Left: The truss being unpacked and secured to the crane.
Right: The truss being lowered into the dome - a tight fit!

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UPDATE 2nd September Primary Mirror installation

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Left: The primary mirror in its packing crate.
Right: The mirror being lowered into the dome.

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UPDATE 1st September Fork assembly installed.

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Left: Fork assembly after unpacking from the delivery truck. That's the SkyMapper dome in the background.
Right: Fork assembly being lowered into the dome.

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On the 27th of August, in a day with glorious weather the team received and installed the telescope's base ring, the first major piece of the telescope on which it is connected to the ground, and onto which the rest of the telescope rests.

Above: Carefully lowering the base ring into the dome.

Click images for larger versions.

Left: Unpacking the delivery truck.
Centre: The base ring ready to be lifted.
Right: The base ring installed in the dome.

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