Telescope Array

[Acitnoids]

Let us say that I have three or more optical telescopes networkes together and evenly spaced out along a radius of one kilometer. If I pointed all of the telescopes towards the same object in the sky, would that amount to looking at the observed object with a two-kilometer telescope or does this only work when measuring radio waves? In other words, is there any advantage to placing optical telescopes in a large array or not? Wouldn't the image show more detail with each telescope added? Wouldn't it be easier to determine the speed, rotation and direction of solar bodies such as asteroids? The only telescope arrays that I know of has to do with the measurement of radio waves. What kind of science can be done with a large array of optical telescopes?

[cosmictraveler]

By Robert Roy Britt
Senior Science Writer
posted: 11:09 am ET
21 September 2001


"A brand new telescope atop Mount Wilson in California has set a benchmark in a burgeoning field of astronomical observation known as interferometry.

By combining the light from two telescopes set 330 meters apart, the CHARA array, as it is known, has become the world's largest optical interferometer. By comparison, the largest conventional optical telescopes do not exceed 36 feet (11 meters) in diameter.

The milestone, reported as imminent this summer by SPACE.com, is an important step in the array's ability to begin doing real science. And it advances the field of interferometry, currently dominated by arrays working in the radio wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The optical array will eventually consist of six telescopes, each with a light-collecting mirror that is 1 meter in diameter (3 feet). Since 1999, two of the telescopes have been working, but useful observations require the third, which is now online. All six should be operational by early next year, refining accuracy and allowing for quicker observations.

CHARA (Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy) is operated by Georgia State University. "

[Acitnoids]

Cosmictraveler,
Do you have a link? I'm interested in the capabilities of this technique. What is the increase in resolution for each (1 meter) telescope added? What thpe of processing power does it take to run the software? How "versatile" is the software? What types of observations have they made? Is there a optimal configuration for the telescopes in the array? Setting up an array like this has been a dream of mind for some time. It would be nice to check out one of the logistical items. Any additional information will be appreciated.
.
Edit: I googled CHARA array and found most of my answers. Cool stuff, thanks again.

[cosmictraveler]

http://www.eso.org/

[PieAreSquared]

also...
http://www.mro.nmt.edu/Projects/interferometer.htm

[bonafied]

Large Array Astronomy is just on the threshold of new fantastic discoveries. Give it another five years and watch and see........Also, give some serious thought before heeding the advice of Rick Crockett (Kern River Valley Astronomers) in this forum or any other forums on the subject of telescope making. This is some good advice for all of you ATMs out there.

[Burada]

Let us say that I have three or more optical telescopes networkes together and evenly spaced out along a radius of one kilometer. If I pointed all of the telescopes towards the same object in the sky, would that amount to looking at the observed object with a two-kilometer telescope or does this only work when measuring radio waves? In other words, is there any advantage to placing optical telescopes in a large array or not? Wouldn't the image show more detail with each telescope added? Wouldn't it be easier to determine the speed, rotation and direction of solar bodies such as asteroids? The only telescope arrays that I know of has to do with the measurement of radio waves. What kind of science can be done with a large array of optical telescopes?

As large arrays go and at 40 meters each, the two Kecks in Hawaii seem to be doing pretty good science these days.