ANSALDO – LBT (Large Binocular Telescope)

On November 13th, 2001 afternoon we went to Milan to visit the LBT ( Large Binocular Telescope ) made in the Milanese plants of Ansaldo-Camozzi.
When we arrived the engineer who received us, responsible for the plane,
told us about the construction of LBT in a detailed way.
The assembling work and the construction of the big astronomica “eye” was already finished and the complicated working mechanisms had been tested in the minimal details.
In fact on the same day we could see the definite test of its working, or only of its rotation because the two lens had not been inserted in their appropriate supports yet.
As the final test was positive, the engineer told us that in the middle of December the LBT would be taken down in order to transfer it to its definite place: the space observatory on Graham Mount, in Arizona, and to install it there in the spring 2002.
The large binocular telescope, which functions thanks to the combination of the two observation lens instead of only one, is the result of a collaboration between the University of Arizona, the Italian astronomical comunity, which is rapresented by the Observatory of Arcetri ( near Florence ) and a German group of research corporations.
The scientific parteners’aim will be to use LBT to probe the Known cosmos borders, to scrutinize the centre of galaxies and where the Big Bang possibly took place.
The whole mechanical structur, most of the technological components and the assembling of the several parts of the big telescope werw made by Ansaldo–Camozzi Energy Special Components, which is one of the leading firm for the telescope construction in the world: the LVT (Very Large Telescope), which is in the Chilean desert of Atacama, the TNG (National Galieo Telescope) in the Canary Island, and the NTT ( New Tecnology Telescope), an other super technological telescope installed on the Chilean Andes have already been made in its plants.
The engineer explained to us that the LBT is a big conveyer of light with
two primary parabolic mirrors of 8,4 testers in diameter, placed at a
distance of 14,4 testers between axis.
And the revolution in LBT is in these mirrors: the astrologies proved that the use of two mirrors instead of a big one is better. In fact its configuration allow the whole sample with all its space frequencies in theview as far as 22,8 testers (331 inch) using the interferometric image between the two lens of 8,4 testers. This gives us the possibility to observe and to study small objects in a relatively large field. The optical configuration allows a very high visibility and the LBT is the only very big telescope thet guarantees these performances. At Ansaldo they pointed out that the structere of this telescope will be about 30 metres high and 550 tons weigh, and it will be transfered in pieces on to the top of Graham Mount.
The cost of the telescope is 220 bilion lire, plus the high transport costs (we only have to think that the Milan-Venice distance will cost 2 bilion lire). This sum points out the effort for the scientific reserch in Italy, but also a highly industrial ability.

The LBT: world’s most powerful telescope
At the dawn of new millennium, a giant new telescope will begin to observe the universe in ways never possible before. Located near the summit of Mt. Graham, a sky island high above the desert of southeastern Arizona, the LBT represents a major advancement in astronomical research capabilities. The LBT unique binocular design
and state-of-the-art optics technology will provide both unparalleled sensitivity to extremely faint objects and sharper than ever imaging capability. With the LBT,
astronomers will explore deeper into space with greater clarity than ever before as they pursue the everlasting human quest to understand the origin of the universe and
all that it contains. In short, the LBT will be the world’s most powerful telescope for research in optical and infrared astronomy.

LBT design: a giant step forward
The LBT is like no other telescope in the world. Each feature has been designed to achieve performance long needed by astronomers but never before possible. The LBT unique design not only overcomes the technological barriers that have limited ground-based astronomy but does so at relatively low cost. This breakthrough was
made possible both by the binocular design and by the use of the innovative mirror technology. The LBT will be equipped with two giant mirrors, each 8.4 meters (28 fi.) across and positioned side-by-side on a single mount, spanning 22.8 meters (75 a.). Each of the LBT mirrors is larger than any in the world is. These giant “eyes” will give a deeper and clearer view of the cosmos than has ever been achieved before. The mechanical design of the telescope is also revolutionary, combining enormous
stiffhess with relatively lightweight and remarkable compactness. The telescope is an elevation over an azimuth mounting. The optical support structure moves on two large C-shaped rings, and the compact azimuth platf0n;n transmits the loads directly down to the pier. This combination will give excellent performance and the necessw stability for combining the two light beams intderomebncally. The short focal length of the primary mirrors (ui.14) and the binocular layout also permit a very compact
enclosure.

- The LBT will have the light gathering power of a single 11.8-meter (39-fi.) mirror greater than any other single telescope.
- As its combined focus, the LBT will produce images that are ten times sharper even than the Hubble Space Telescope.
The combined mirrors can also be used as a “nulling interferometer” so that light from a bright star is eliminated while light fhom a nearby ptanet or interplanetas, disk is enhanced.