Se completa la estructura mecánica del GTC

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La estructura del Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC), que se está instalando en el Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, en Garafía (isla de La Palma), está completa.

Tras el montaje, el pasado mes de septiembre, del conjunto del eje de elevación, se procedió a su nivelado y ajuste para, posteriormente, instalar el último de los componentes de la estructura mecánica.

La araña, situada en la parte superior del tubo, está formada por el anillo y seis pares de barras, dejando en el centro el hueco necesario para alojar al espejo secundario y su sistema de accionamientos.

En conjunto, la araña pesa unos 6.500 kg y sujetará una masa de 2.500 a 20 m de altura. La máxima deformación de este componente será de sólo 300 micras. Para reducir la sombra que la araña producirá sobre el espejo primario se ha estrechado la anchura de las barras, haciendo que coincidan con las brechas que quedan entre los segmentos del espejo primario.

La estructura mecánica del telescopio, dividida en tres grandes bloques (anillo de acimut, montura y tubo) está fabricada en acero al carbono y pesa en total unas 300 toneladas.

Uno de los siguientes pasos serán los ajustes y el alineado de esta parte de la estructura mecánica, tras lo que se motarán las subceldas de los segmentos del espejo primario y la torre del espejo terciario.

Más información en:
http://www.gtcdigital.net
http://www.gtc.iac.es
http://www.iac.es/gtc

News type
Press release

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